Guyana Times Daily - June 25, 2015

thursday, june 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man gunned down at Butcher’s Pool Hall

…Police say shooting drug related

BY BHISHAM MOHAMED

One man is dead and another hospitalised following a raging gun battle on Tuesday evening at Butcher’s Pool Hall, Lot 25 Middleton Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

And a top Police sources said incident was not an attempted robbery as was earlier reported but rather a drugrelated incident. The dead man in the shootout is yet to be identified while the injured man has been identifies as Paul Chow, age 31, a father of one of Lot 10 Railway Line, Kitty, Georgetown. Guyana Times understands that Chow is a security officer who has alleged criminal ties.

According to information received, the now dead man who sported dreadlocks and who has “Spine Doctor” tattooed on his back is known to Chow, since prior to the shooting incident, the two men were seen engaged in a heated argument in the pool hall.

Guyana Times understands that the argument stemmed

from a deal that went sour resulting in the loss of millions of dollars. After the argument, the “Rasta man” left the shop while Chow continued drinking with his Army and Police friends. After sometime had elapsed, this publication was told that the pool hall closed its doors for business but Chow and his friends remained outside the business place taking their drinks. It was during this time the “Rasta man” returned with two other men.

“Two came from the direc-

tion of Hilton Restaurant and de Rasta Man come from the direction of the water place… as they two men open fire on Chow, chow pulled out a gun and shoot back at the men hitting one of them”, an eyewitness told this newspaper.

While Chow was reportedly concentrating on the two men, it is alleged that the dreadlocked man approached from the other direction and discharged two rounds at him. It was at this time that a Police ranks attached to the Criminal Investigation Department pulled out his firearm and shot the man to his chest. “Rasta Man fall down right there and dead and the other two escaped,” the source stated.

Both Chow and the dreadlocked man were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where the unidentified man was pronounced dead on arrival and Chow was admitted.

Guyana Times understands too that the gun that Chow had in his possession might have been illegal since upon leaving his work place,

it is a requirement that his firearm is lodged. It is also believed that the Police rank and the soldier who were with Chow are not telling that truth about what really transpired.

Police in a statement said based on investigations, at about 23:20h on Tuesday evening, a group of men, including a Policeman and a member of the Guyana Defence Force, were at the Butcher Pool Hall at Middleton Street,

Georgetown, when two men approached and discharged rounds in their direction.

As a result, Paul Chow who was in the grouping was hit to his chest and jaw. Police further stated that both the Policeman and the soldier returned fire and one of the armed men was hit about his body, while his accomplice managed to escape. The dead man, the Police disclosed, is of African descent with dread-

locked hair. He appears to be in his 40’s, fair in complexion, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, medium build and has a tattoo on his back with the words “Spine Doctor”. In addition, the Police confirmed that the Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an investigation into the shooting incident that left one dead; presumably shot by a service weapon belonging to the CID rank.

Man hurt during shooting spree at East Ruimveldt

One man is nursing gunshot injuries to his body at the Georgetown Public Hospital after a group of men opened fire indiscriminately at Front Road, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown on Tuesday evening.

David Pyle, 46, of Lot 2 Phase 2, East Ruimveldt, was shot to his right leg and right buttock after he was caught in the hail of gunfire in the community. The man reportedly told investigators that he was at home when he heard the gunshots from afar.

The sounds of the gunshots intensified and before he realised, the men were in front of his house as they continued shooting. The bullet reportedly passed through the walls of his house and struck him.

Guyana Times visited the area on Wednesday morning and was told by several residents that pandemonium broke out on Tuesday evening after the brother of now dead Sherwin Barrow opened fire on the home of a young man he had accused of killing his brother in Warlock, Ruimveldt in May.

Barrow was gunned down while he was among friends at the shop in Warlock, West Ruimveldt. He was reportedly shot at least seven times by

a lone gunman whose accomplice was on a motorcycle. The suspect reportedly walked up to Barrow, whipped out a gun and discharged several rounds in his direction. The men then made good their escape.

Meanwhile, an occupant of one of the houses that were riddled with bullets on Tuesday evening told this publication that the incident occurred about 21:15h and carried out by three men, one of whom is the brother of Barrow. The second assailant was referred to as “Not Nice” and the third man was dressed as a member

of the target squad.

As she pointed to the bullet holes in the walls, the woman stated that the three men kicked open her gate and called out for her cousin. She noted that her cousin had moved out a while ago and she was not sure why the men came to the house.

Bullet holes were seen in the walls of two houses in the yard, the gas cooker in the kitchen and the doors. The children, she noted, who were at home during the shooting rampage had to lie flat on the ground. Most of them started to scream. After some 10 minutes, the men left the yard and went toward Vlissengen Road via the mud dam.

Moments before the attack, Guyana Times understands, the men went to another house a short distance away and opened fire indiscriminately. They also kicked down the door to a kitchen.

Occupants of both of the houses are reportedly family members of the man who is being hunted for Barrow’s murder.

A woman at the other house told this publication that after hearing the men coming through the track, she hid in the yard. There were other people sitting around but the men did not interfere with them.

“From wah I see they de looking fuh me, but I know meh yard so I went and hid … after they shoot up and broke de kitchen door and nah find me, they left and went to the other house … meh neighbours went sitting in meh yard but they nah trouble anyone,” the woman noted.

Police have confirmed that they retrieved several 9mm war heads at the scene. An investigation has been launched.

Injured, Paul Chow

The bullet holes (circled) on the house

One of the warheads found at the scene

thursday, june 25, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, June 25 – 11:00h-12:30h and Friday, June 26 – 12:30h-14:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, June 25 – 10:10h-11:40h and Friday, June 26 – 11:20h-12:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected to dominating throughout the day, with heavy showers expected in the late afternoon. Thundery showers are expected to return in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 10:53h and 23:25h reaching maximum heights of 2.21 metres and 2.24 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:23h and 16:51h reaching minimum heights of 1.01 metre and 0.99 metre respectively.

PPP/C files elections petition in High Court

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on Wednesday filed an election petition with the High Court, questioning the validity of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, while asking the court to grant a number of orders including the nullification of the May 11, 2015 Election, as well as an order for new elections to be held, among several others.

The petition was filed by former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, on behalf of the applicant, PPP/C Executive Member Ganga Persaud, under the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act Chapter 1:04, and names as the defendants on the petition – Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Keith Lowenfield, and the representatives of the List of Candidates for all eight parties that contested the recently concluded election.

These are Donald Ramtoar for the PPP/C, Harold Lutchman for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC), Candidates Marissa Nadir for the United Force (TUF), Mark Benschop for the Independent Party (IP), Saphier HussainSubedar for the National Independent Party (NIP), Vishnu Bandhu for the United Republican Party (URP), Genrald Perreira for the Organisation for the Victory of the People (OVP), and Leon Saul of the Healing The Nation Theocracy Party (HTNTP).

In the petition, Persaud asks the court to “determine and declare that the whole of the electoral process was so flawed, contained so many procedural errors and so many instances of fraudulent and/or suspicions ac-

tions that the results that have been derived from the process cannot be credibly deemed to represent accurately the will of the electorate”.

Additionally, a request was made for the court to “determine and declares that the number of valid votes cast differs from the number of votes upon which seats in the National Assembly were allocated to that list, and further that the Guyana Elections Commission be directed to review the said lists and to accordingly reallocate such seat in accordance with Section 97 of the Representation of the People Act”.

The party is also asking the court to find that the refusal of the Returning Officers (ROs) to grant a final general count, as requested by the Counting Agents of the PPP/C is unlawful, null and void.

Furthermore, a request was made also for the recount of all ballots cast in the May 11 Election and for the court to grant such redress in conformity with the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Chapter 1:04, as may be just, appropriate and necessary, in-

cluding, but not limited to, ordering fresh election to be held in the whole or part, for the purpose of rectifying the said results; and that the court give such incidental, ancillary and supplementary direction as the court may deem fit, including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the reallocation of the seats in the National Assembly.

Some of the grounds laid out in the election petition include valid ballots being wrongly deemed rejected; Statements of Poll (SOP) used to ascertain the results contain arithmetic errors; multiple voting by persons and impersonation of persons; PPP/C ballot attendants and polling agents being prevented from accompanying the ballot boxes; and the fact that there were fraudulently concocted SOPs.

Another ground highlighted in the court document states that many of the SOPs used by GECOM and the CEO to ascertain the results were not the Statements of Poll which emanated from the polling stations but were fraudulently concocted and insert-

ed into GECOM’s machinery.

Prior to the filing of the petition, the party was required to file an ex-parte application, seeking permission from the court to file the actual election petition. The matter was heard before Chief Justice Ian Chang, who granted leave for Tuesday for the petition to be filed.

Now that the petition is filed, copies have to be served to the parties involved. A date will then have to be fixed by the court for hearing of the petition. The election results disclosed by GECOM shows that the PPP/C gained 202,694 votes while the APNU/AFC gained 207,200.

Since before the election results were officially declared and gazetted, the PPP/C made several requests to the election body for a total recount of the ballots but to no avail. In the application submitted to the court, the party identified a long list of particulars which led to the conclusion that the May 11 General and Regional Elections were massively rigged in favour of the APNU+AFC coalition.

Meanwhile, amid these allegations of rigged elections, the international community, elections observers and other stakeholders have accepted the results while some have conceded that the elections were free and fair.

Despite the negative atmosphere in which the PPP/C dwells with calls from all sections of society to quit its mantra of rigged elections, the party is still holding out and maintaining that Guyanese were robbed of their right to a free and fair democratic process and that Guyana is now being governed by a “de facto” administration.

Attorney Anil Nandlall filing the election petition at the Registry of the High Court on Wednesday

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

The Genetically Modified foods option

Two years ago, the option of having GM foods or Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) be produced in Guyana was raised.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began drafting biosafety/bio-technology legislation. However nothing seems to have come out of the exercise.

In the meantime, after five years of rather acrimonious debate, the EU earlier this year passed legislation allowing 17 GM crops to be cultivated. What this means is that Guyana will have to make a policy decision in this area and the debate should begin sooner rather than later.

Undoubtedly, bio-safety and bio-technology are very complex issues and because of the lack of familiarity in various areas, additional work has to be done to lift awareness and understanding of the threats and opportunities.

There are definitely opportunities in biodiversity, but these cannot be explored if the necessary framework to guard against what are the potential problems that can come about does not exist.

GM foods made a big splash in the news as long as a decade ago in Europe and the US, but the issue is still up in the air.

India, for instance banned a Monsanto GM “bigan” (eggplant) over health concerns a year ago.

European environmental organisations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods and controversial studies about the effects of genetically-modified corn pollen on monarch butterfly caterpillars have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness in the US.

Some of the benefits of GMOs include increased pest resistance. Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers.

Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of the potential health hazards. And run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment.

Another touted benefit is herbicide tolerance. For some crops, it is not cost-effective to remove weeds by physical means, such as tilling, so farmers will often spray large quantities of different herbicides (weed-killer) to destroy weeds, a timeconsuming and expensive process, that requires care so that the herbicide does not harm the crop plant or the environment.

Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance is yet another benefit that might transform, for instance our savannahs.

But there are also the downside risks of which “allergenicity” looms large. Many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods.

There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. In addition there are unknown effects on human health.

There is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health. A decade old article published in Lancet examined the effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats. This study claimed that there were appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes.

There can also be unintended harm to other organisms such as when pollen from a GM species blows into neighbouring fields of “normal” plants. There was the aforementioned monarch butterflies affected in this manner.

Finally, even though GMOs are supposed to reduce the use of pesticides, they can also result in the reduced effectiveness of pesticides.

Just as some populations of mosquitoes developed resistance to the now-banned pesticide DDT, many people are concerned that insects will become resistant to crops that have been genetically-modified to produce their own pesticides.

A wise and tactical move to boycott Parliament

Dear Editor,

The PPP/C’s plan to boycott the second sitting of the 11th Parliament is a wise and tactical move. It adds pressure on the government.

We are having enough difficulty facing up to victimization on innocent Guyanese on a daily basis. We cannot accept the fact that democracy is dead. Oh no, we won’t be a part of it.

The APNU has kidnapped the election and now they are having difficulty coming to terms with moving forward with the stolen loot. Well, for starters, just sit together and do some deep soul searching and you will be astonished at the results.

Again, it is a counselling skill and if diligently worked on can bring great results. Guyana needs this right now – honest and decent people to lead them.

The AML/CFT Bill was sent to the house by the PPPC Government and it was voted down by the now coalition of sorts. They were eager and willing to frustrate the government then so nothing sensible came out of the 10th Parliament.

So, here’s my point: if the AML/CFT Bill was so wrong then, and it was not important then, why should it be

now? Why the rush?

You see, when people who have no chart or compass or any real purpose in life take office, this will be the result. APNU, and you will see me using this entity of the coalition because there is no AFC, they are a dead letter.

When people who as their only objective in life is power, you are bound to get these kinds of situations occurring.

With no accountability to the people of this country when they were in opposition, they made the most horrific decisions ever, voting down everything beneficial and developmental for this nation.

Now that they are in government they are acting amnesiac. No more are they combative, spiteful and deliberate, but they are now pretending that these things never happened.

Well you must realize that we have not forgotten what an abnormal opposition you were and you had better be prepared to face up to that dubious past. We will remind you at every available forum.

The deadline is September. Why the urgency? Certainly this Bill can wait. And if you insist, we have already given our approval of this motion way

back in the 10 Parliament. We are not in the least perturbed by their antics in the 11th.

Another piece of legislation is the reduction of the past Presidents pension benefits. They hope to sneak in this Bill that is aimed at reducing the emoluments due to past Presidents, Bharrat Jagdeo being their main target.

Here again we see the biased and vindictive nature of this regime. They want to cut benefits from a past PPPC President. Don’t they think this will come back to haunt them? Mr Granger will become a past President.

You see, you cannot selectively and vindictively make laws and expect them not to come back to haunt you. Laws were meant to be fixed statutes that cater for, as well as protect the rights of victor and vanquished.

Laws are not arbitrary filings that are made for one set of individuals when they are of one status and changed when that status changes. If that is the case, then there would be a nightmarish existence in a confusing world.

And staying on the same topic, wasn’t it Granger’s promise to the people that he would reduce the executive powers of

the President? Whatever became of that promise? When Donald Ramotar prorogued Parliament, there was a big hue and cry as to the executive powers of the President. Has he forgotten that promise?

The point I am making is bit by bit, overtly and sometimes covertly, APNU is revealing to the public how vengeful they are. Oh they think they are doing themselves a favour with these mindless antics, but more and more their supporters are getting turned off by it. With nothing tangible by way of developmental policies to move this country forward, they are becoming the unproductive witch hunting ragtags of society.

So, sit and talk to yourselves a little longer, think constructively and objectively as to which direction you would like this country to go. Do some more soul searching, we have time let’s take things slowly.

Meantime, we are pressing ahead with our court matter petitioning the justice system for a recount of the votes in the May 11 election. That is our goal. This is important to us.

Neil Adams

What about the independence of the PSC?

Dear Editor,

On June 19, US Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt visited the Attorney General “to get an idea of the reforms that the new Government wishes to institute in order to restore the independence of the Judiciary, and ensure due process within the country”, according to a news report.

But what about the in-

dependence of the Public Service Commission (PSC) where Minister Simona Broomes recently gave directives, in spite of the fact that the PSC is an independent body and a constitutional commission?

This goes for the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) as well, where the Ministry of Social Cohesion wants to illegally usurp the

functions of this constitutional body. Why is the ERC not functioning as yet to carry out its constitutional mandate to promote ethnic harmony in Guyana?

The May 2015 elections were massively rigged and that the PPPC is currently engaged in a struggle to get rid of the Chairman of GECOM from his office for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. And further, the PPP/C was cheated and not defeated at the May 2015 elections. A good deed the US Envoy can do at the moment for Guyana is to advise the Chairman of GECOM to humbly submit his resignation for the maintenance of a democratic system.

Vincent Williams

Hot lava flows from Mount Sinabung Volcano during eruption as seen from Tiga Serangkai village in Karo Regency, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia on June 25. More than 10,000 people from 12 villages around the slopes of Mount Sinabung have left their homes and moved to refugee camps (Reuters/Beawiharta)

Something for the Police to consider

Dear Editor,

I was driving along the famous Number 19 road on the Corentyne, Berbice around 10:00h on June 21. Along my way I was given signals by the incoming traffic that Police are on the road, so I looked at my speedometer and I was doing around 75 to 78 kmh.

I maintained my speed and I began to show my brother who was with me at the time, where the Police normally hide out to catch speeding drivers.

About 100 feet away from where the Police were hiding, I saw one of the officers walking coming to the center of the road. I looked at my speedometer again and I was below the 80 kmh speed limit and proceeded.

The officer stopped me, so I was of the opinion that he wanted to carry out a routine check. I pulled over and the officer (name given), attached to the New Amsterdam Police Station, came to me with the speed gun telling me that I was

doing 86 kmh on an 80 kmh zone.

I immediately told him that is wrong that I was doing less than 80 kmh and there is no way I could be doing 86 kmh. He then told me to step out the vehicle and bring along my licence. I comply and proceeded to the Police car that was parked under a tree along with another officer.

The officer (name given) under the tree reading the daily newspaper on the Police car PSS 4458 immediately told me: “Boss-man if you know you are wrong you should have apologized to the Plice and talk to us properly.” His exact words.

I then told him do what they have to do and I will explain the situation to the court. He wrote a speeding ticket with all information and told me I have until July 9 to pay it or appear in court.

I then asked the officer to show me the time on the speed gun when he used it on me and got me doing 86

kmh and let him put the gun to zero so I can know if it is properly calibrated. They refused.

In addition, I normally traverse on that route each working day of the week to go to work for the past three years and I know all the hiding spots and the normal spots they will be to catch speeding drivers.

Therefore, there is a natural tendency for me to look at my speedometer when I am approaching those areas.

I am law abiding citizen of this beautiful land and I think our Police Force needs to be more efficient and have proper equipment to carry out their duties in a correct manner and be fair to citizens who are wrongfully penalized for an offence they did not commit.

I am sure that I could have dealt with the situation differently, but to know I was not guilty. I am allowing the court to hear my plea and make a judgment.

J Narayan

Govt must expedite constitutional reform

Dear Editor, More than a month has passed since the new government took over control of the nation and there is no evidence as yet that the ruling dispensation will establish a commission to amend or replace the Burnham Constitution.

A politician from a minor party recently noted that there will be no constitutional reform to empower the population. And Guyanese within the diaspora and at home have expressed reservations whether the government will keep its promises during the campaign to reduce powers of the government.

As I indicated in previous commentaries, I do not

foresee the Constitution being replaced, and many commentators have also given similar views.

Rulers simply do not (never did) want to curtail their powers. If anything, given an opportunity, they will like to add to it because they feel they will be there forever.

That is human nature; they do not want to give up or reduce what they have. So I expect no significant constitutional changes.

Virtually no ruling party in any part of the globe undertook or has undertaken reforms to severely reduce its power. The PNC did not when it was in office. The PPPC did not when it governed for over 22 years.

However, when they were in the opposition, both parties wanted to amend the Burnham Constitution to reduce the power of the Executive. Once in power, they see no need for changes – parties all over the world behave that way.

Thus, it will not be surprising to find the PPPC calling for constitutional reforms and the PNC (APNU) and AFC seeking to delay any reform as long as possible.

When the PPPC faced street protests in the late 1990s, it relented to its opposition to changes in the fraudulent Constitution and agreed to some minor changes.

Waiting too long for birth, marriage and death certificates

Dear Editor, I had applied several times on behalf of poor residents in my community and also for members of my church for birth, death and marriage certificates, but the wait is very long.

I applied for some birth, death and marriage certificates since last year, but only received a few of those which I had applied for in the post.

If a person has never been registered, the GPOC should send me a card saying that the person’s record cannot be found. However, I received no such card after sending in the applications.

In an age where modern technology is on the increase, I don’t think one should wait more than one

week or three days to get a birth certificate from GPOC.

I gave some of these applicants the receipt, and even filled out a new form for them to go and apply for their certificates directly at the GPOC, but they never heard a word in the mail.

As a result of slow and poor processing of birth certificates, perhaps thousands of our Guyanese citizens have been unable to register for their new identification cards and never voted at the recent elections.

Why is it that birth, death and marriage certificates are taking months and even years to be processed at the GPOC? It seems as if there is a lot of incompetence at this institution.

I am aware of lots of peo-

Union disappointed with treatment of Guyanese workers

Dear Editor, Around 00:00h (midnight) two nights ago, a cook who is employed with (name of company given), who is stationed on the company’s tug in the New Amsterdam basin took in sick and the company subsequently provided a boat and took the cook/worker to the New Amsterdam stelling and left the sick cook on his own to find his way to the News Amsterdam Hospital.

The People United and

General Workers Union (PUGWU) is extremely disappointed with the heartless way this company is treating its Guyanese workers.

The Union is certain that if it was an expatriate, the company would have provided transportation and took/ accompanied the staff to the Hospital.

The company did not even know if the cook had credit is phone to call a taxi or money to pay for a taxi to go to the Hospital. This ac-

tion by the company is not new to the Union since similar incidents occurred in the past. The Union will get down to the bottom of this matter and will write the company. The Union will take all necessary steps to make sure that such treatment of Guyanese workers comes to an end.

Micah Williams General Secretary PUGWU

Light bulbs alone do not build or serve

Dear Editor,

Mr George Daniels, a former GPSU and TUC President wrote a brief letter, titled “Light bulb”, excoriating the PNC-led coalition’s Minister of Health, who was the GPHC’s Head of Ophthalmology for several years during the PPP/C government.

Dr George Norton was apparently never victimised or pressured to resign even when he was both a PNC MP and professional civil servant. Compare the PNCled coalition rigged into power by GECOM.

Could Mr Daniels be in need of serious eye care due to his interest with opthalmology and light bulbs? Either Amerindians are sacred cows for the PPP/C or they are not. Why the PPP/C did not name Foreign Affairs Minister Ms Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett as their

Prime Minister candidate and lock in that vote bank is still a mystery.

The PPP/C’s international ideology has always found it impoverished in addressing the race issue. But their dedication, genuine empathy and concern for the poor have always won them, and their fraternal friends, sincere admiration fighting against formidable odds.

Let the example of Vietnamese medical dedication serve as inspiration to build Guyana. You can more easily understand how the US could never have beaten the Vietnamese, much like the French had failed before them.

Their sheer tenacity and resourcefulness virtually guaranteed a result against the-then most powerful army in the world.

So Mr Daniels takes the Health Minister to task be-

cause he is bothered that Dr Norton is reported to have said “he was very surprised that medical professionals would refuse to work because of something as trivial as a non-working light bulb”?

Mr Daniels asks, “Was the Minister’s comment representative of a Freudian slip or just plain, foot-inmouth disease?” Mr Daniels should re examine himself. People like him hold back Guyana as is. The future federal Guyana will leave him in the dust because he knows nothing better. That “foot in mouth” is alive and well for a long time in Guyana is not in question. Who is infected and how severe is the malady is what is of uppermost concern. The illness is very contagious among Guyanese political quadrupeds and bipeds.

ple who are still waiting for their birth certificates over a year, many who even had old birth certificates are now even told they were never registered.

A late birth registration now takes six months and over, and tons of paper work and documentation that costs a lot. In this day and age of modern technology, I can’t see the reason why a birth certificate cannot be issued in three days or the same day in special emergencies.

The cost for one birth certificate just a year ago was just $30 now it’s $300, an increase of 1000 per cent , yet the process to obtain this basic certificate takes longer.

Page Foundation

With the many challenges and adjustments children experience as they navigate childhood and adolescence, it is important to help them stay mentally healthy and encourage a positive lifestyle.

Five tips to help your children maintain a healthy and happy state of mind

Teach your child to be a positive thinker

Positive thinking means acknowledging a situation and choosing to perceive it in a useful way. It does not mean ignoring negative life events; instead, you maintain a more productive outlook. Studies show children can not only grasp the principle of positive thinking, but they get better at it as they get older. When it is nurtured, positive thinking is a powerful coping tool and helps foster resilience. Be a positive-thinking role model for your children. Interpret your own life situations in a positive way. The earlier a child learns, the more likely they will develop an optimistic perspective later in life, which is one of the many benefits of thinking positive.

Encourage an active lifestyle

The World Health Organisation recommends

that children and teens between the age of five and 17 years old should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Exercise goes hand-inhand with mental health, and will help improve your child’s overall well-being. Evidence shows that physical activity for this age group is associated with fewer symptoms of depression. Encourage your child to join a sports team, organise a family bike ride, or go swimming at a nearby pool. There are endless ways to make exercising fun for you and your children! Help them find the

right balance

It is important for children to spend time socialising with friends, as well as gaining a sense of responsibility and independence. While “play time” seems much more enjoyable than doing homework, give your child responsibility at home. For example, babysitting younger siblings, helping with dinner, or cleaning their room can encourage them to develop a balanced routine, which is important for mental health.

Teach healthy eating habits early on It is crucial your child

receives the proper nutrients as they get older –such as calcium and vitamin D, which help build strong and healthy bones. Eating healthy has a positive effect on both physical and mental health. Healthy eating habits can also help promote a positive body image in adolescents, improving their confidence and how they feel about their body. In such a media-saturated environment, it is important for youth to feel confident about themselves. However, this does not mean you should be putting “bad” foods off limits.

Ensure they are getting enough sleep

Children require different amounts of sleep at different ages. If your child is not getting enough sleep, they may feel tired during the day; lack interest, motivation, and attention; have trouble waking up in the morning; or appear drowsy at school and while doing homework. Older adolescents may experience excessive fatigue and changes in mood and school performance, and may start relying on stimulant substances to stay alert. These consequences of not getting enough sleep can have a negative effect on a child’s mental health. (Healthyandhappy. com)

(Continued from Wednesday)

Boosting body image

As preteens try on different looks, parents can help by being accepting and supportive, providing positive messages, and encouraging other qualities that keep looks in perspective. Be sure to:

Accept and understand. Recognise that being concerned about looks is as much a part of the teen years as a changing voice and learning to shave. You know that in the grand scheme of things your daughter’s freckles don’t matter, but to her they might seem paramount. As frustrating as it can be when they monopolise the bathroom, avoid criticising children for being concerned about appearances. As they grow, concern about their looks will stop dominating their lives. Give lots of compliments. Provide reassurance about children’ looks and about all their other important qualities. As much as they may seem not to notice or care, simple statements like “you’ve got the most

beautiful smile” or “that shirt looks great on you” really do matter. Compliment them on other physical attributes, such as strength, speed, balance, energy, or grace. Appreciating physical qualities and capabilities helps build a healthy body image.

Compliment what’s inside too. Notice out loud all the personal qualities that you love about your children – how generous your son is to share with his little sister, the determined way that your daughter studies for her tests, or how your son stood by his best friend. Reassure them when they express insecurity. When you hear “I hate my hair” or “I’m so little,” provide valuable counterpoint. Talk about what appearances mean. Guide your children to think a little more deeply about appearances and how people express themselves. Talk about the messages that certain styles might convey. One outfit may send the message “I’m ready to party!” while others might say “I’m heading to school” or “I’m too lazy to do laundry.” Set reasonable boundaries. Be patient, but also set boundaries on how much time your children can spend on grooming and dressing. Tell them it’s not okay to inconvenience others or let chores go. Limits help children understand how to manage time, be considerate of others’ needs, share resources, exercise a little selfdiscipline, and keep appearances in perspective.

Be a good role model. How you talk about your own looks sets a powerful example. Constantly complaining about or fretting over your appearance teaches your children to cast the same critical eye on themselves. Almost everyone is dissatisfied with certain elements of their appearance, but talk instead about what your body can do, not just how it looks. Instead of griping about how big your legs are, talk about how they’re strong enough to help you hike up a mountain.

Having a healthy and positive body image means liking your body, appreciating it, and being grateful for its qualities and capabilities. When parents care for and appreciate their own bodies, they teach their children to do the same.

PPP/C rejects new AML/CFT Bill

... says amendments non-compliant with int’l requirements

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) said that the proposed AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill contains some provisions that have been rejected by the Caribbean Action Task Force as well as the Financial Action Task Force and Government runs the risk of passing into a law a bill that may not be compliant with international requirements.

Attorney General Basil Williams will table the Bill today in the House. It contained measures which the PPP/C Administration had refused to include in the Bill that the then Opposition had proposed. At a news conference on Wednesday morning at Freedom House, Gail Teixeira reading from a prepared statement said as members of the PPP/C and as former Members of Parliament on the two Parliamentary Special Select Committees on the 2013 Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bills in the 10th Parliament, “we wish to inform the public that the 2015 Bill Number 4 slated for tabling for first reading at the June 25th sitting of the National Assembly is the revised Bill compiled in the two previous committees with all the APNU amendments inserted.” Teixeira was supported by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Bishop Juan Edghill.

Teixeira said all the contentious APNU amendments which were obstacles to reaching consensus on the 2013 AMLCFT (Amendment) Bill based on FATF requirements and recommendations are now before the National Assembly in the form of Bill Number 4 of 2015. She detailed some of the objections both the PPP/C and the international bodies had raised over the APNU amendments.

Among the amendments proposed by the Government is to remove the power of the Attorney General and invest it in the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit. According to the PPP/C, the Government proposed Amendment to Section 2(2) of the AMLCFT Act 2009 by

deleting the words ‘Attorney General’ wherever they appear and replacing them with the word ‘Director. “It should be noted that the primary function of the FIU as stated in the first criterion of FATF Recommendation 26 of the Third Round is to serve as a national centre for receiving, analysing and disseminating disclosures of suspicious transaction reports and other relevant information concerning suspected Money Laundering or Financing Terrorism activities. “Countries should consider whether the Director of the FIU given his main function is the appropriate official with respect to resources and qualifications to ensure that entities are listed, evidence presented to judges in connection with listing and orders by judges in relation to listing are reviewed. This function is closely linked to the application for court orders to seize and freeze criminal proceeds of the listed entities, a function that is carried out usually by the Attorney General in his/her role as legal advisor to the Government to fulfil a country’s international legal obligations. Additionally, the Attorney General in his/her role as legal adviser to the State helps to establish the legality of listing and the actions to be done in accordance with it. It should be noted that along with the jurisdictions mentioned in your letter of May 7, 2014, the above function has also been assigned to the Attorney General in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.”

The other contentious amendment is the establishment of a AMLCFT Authority which members

will be appointed by the National Assembly, and removing the powers of the Minister to appoint the Director and the power of the President to dismiss the Director and placing these powers in the Authority. The Authority will also be responsible for overseeing the operations of the FIU. The PPP/C is contending that the above amendment as stated appears to undermine the autonomy of the FIU. “As stipulated in the criteria of FATF Recommendation 26, the FIU should have sufficient operational independence and autonomy to ensure that it is free from undue influence or interference. The assigning of the responsibility of oversight of the operations of the FIU to the AML/CFT Authority effectively eliminates the operational independence and autonomy and does not comply with the requirement of Recommendation 26.”

The third issue which has raised the ire of the PPP/C is the amendment to Section 37 by extending the powers of a Police Officer or customs officer to seize and detain cash $10 million or more anywhere in Guyana upon suspicion that such cash is derived from a serious offence, will be used to commit a serious offence, involved in money laundering or where a false declaration was made, and also giving these same powers to the FIU. “The above amendment is not a specific requirement of the FATF standards. It is noted that no deficiency with respect to this obligation was noted in Guyana’s Mutual Evaluation Report for the Third Round. Similar provisions are in place in Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines with safeguards which include limiting the initial period of seizure to hours and requiring judicial approval for any extension of the period.”

The PPP/C is arguing that in spite of this information which was shared with all the members of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee in May 2014, a year ago and fully discussed in the committee as reflected in the minutes and verbatim records of the PSSC, Bill Number 4 the AML/CFT Amendment now includes all of the amend-

ments proposed by the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU). “Most vile of these are new Section 8 with regards to the appointment and termination of the Director and the Deputy Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit( FIU) by the National Assembly , and, Section 9 with regards to the appointment of an Attorneyat-law and an Accountant

of the FIU by the National Assembly,” the PPP/C said.

The party has contended that the APNU succeeded deliberately and knowingly in blocking a FATF compliant amendment bill from reaching the National Assembly in time to meet the final of many missed deadlines in June 2014. “This agenda caused Guyana to be brought before FATF for targeted review in June 2014. For the last year, Guyana and its citizens have felt the consequences. The APNU then insisted that if the Bill did not reflect their amendments and the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) conditionality external to the PSSC, the Bill would not reach the floor of the National Assembly. Having done so, the APNU/AFC coalition is now proceeding to achieve its 2013 and 2014 objective of bringing their bill which they know is not FATF compliant.”

Guyana was referred by FATF to its Americas Review Group In September 2014 and went before this

body on two occasions (most recent April 2015) to work on an agreed Action Plan with targets and six monthly reports to ensure targets were being achieved. These targets included legislative and non-legislative interventions. “At no time did the FATF targeted review include the 2013 Amendment Bill with APNU’s amendments. At the last meeting in April 2015, it was agreed that there was need for a slew of regulations to bring the bill in compliance. It is noted that no regulations have been tabled,” PPP/C said. “The People’s Progressive Party Civic remains committed to ensuring that a FATF compliant Bill is passed...that Bill Number 4 2015 is not in compliance with the FATF recommendations. The PPPC therefore has no choice but to oppose Bill Number 4 2015 and to recommend that FATF be consulted soonest on this said Bill.”

Gail Teixeira

Anil Nandlall

More heads to roll as Govt shakes up State Boards

Next in line to be removed from State Boards appear to be Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Chairman Winston Brassington; Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh and Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil)Managing Director Badrie Persaud.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, speaking to media operatives on Wednesday at the post-Cabinet press briefing, indicated that the abovementioned individuals will soon be sent packing given their inadequacy

to effectively manage their respective agency. Since the new Administration took office, there have been massive changes in the various State Boards aimed at what the Government said was bringing back confidence over the operations of the various agencies.

Harmon noted that the Boards were currently being reviewed and that the Government should ar-

rive at a preliminary position by the end of this week as it related to the changes required on the various

Boards.

More pointedly, he noted that Brassington can never enjoy the confidence of the new Government and he was just in a “holding pattern” during this transitioning period. Harmon hinted that there were several other individuals who still hold their positions because of the mere fact that the Government was not quite settled in.

He noted also that Guyoil’s General Manager “does not enjoy the confidence of the Government” and as such, he too will have to go. Further, Harmon said the Board of Directors of Guyoil was definitely up for review.

Former President Donald Ramotar’s son Alexi Ramotar, who is the head of the E-Governance Project, is also in the lineup to be removed from his position, Harmon noted.

In relation to the GRDB General Manager, Harmon disclosed that Singh indicated his desire to demit office and this was fully welcomed by the new administration. In addition, the entire Rice Board is also up for review

and will be replaced. Other Boards up for review include the Board of Directors for the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the Board of Directors of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest). Already, Government has shaken up the entire Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and has replaced it with an interim management committee. GuySuCo

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Raj Singh was fired and the other Board Members were forced to resign.

However, to date, Government is yet to install a new Board. When asked, Harmon disclosed that the Government was still in the process of reviewing proposals for the new Board Members. “The GuySuCo Board is being restructured; we have proposals, we will be looking at this on Saturday and by the end of the following week, a Board should be available,” he said.

Eyew tness

Size isn’t everything...

...in politics?

Prime Minister, First Vice-President and Information Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s quoted as saying “size isn’t everything” when it comes to the margin of his coalition’s win over the PPPC.

A win’s a win, he boasts. But the boast sure sounded like a Freudian slip, since the phrase had always been used more in “hope” than in “certainty” about the effect of the lack of size.

So let’s take APNU/AFC’s 5000 vote win (we’re suspending judgement of the PPPC’s elections petition for this article) they were able to eke out. Is Nagamootoo seriously contending that 50.3 per cent is equal to 100 per cent??

Wasn’t it only yesterday he and his fellow Opposition stalwarts were protesting that the PPPC governmentensconced by the rules of the democratic game - was “illegitimate” because they didn’t control the National Assembly?

So was Nagamootoo and friends only talking about “legitimacy” because the shoe was on the other foot? Whether the new PM likes it or not, he’s finding out - like many callow youths have done through the ages - that size really does matter.

And it’s not only about getting the ladies excited. Right now, for instance, Nagamootoo’s government can’t keep some of the biggest promises it’s been making for years while it was lolling on the opposition benches.

It can’t put into place the Public Procurement Commission for one. It can’t even keep the promise it made to Nagamootoo - if the President’s to be believed.

Your Eyewitness is referring to the promised “delegation” of powers to chair Cabinet, as agreed to by the Cummingsburg Accord. After the volte face, the President now says - with a straight face - that his negotiators didn’t realise the Constitution might have to be changed for that “delegation” to take place!!

And the constitutional change needs the support of the PPPC. The size of the coalition’s just not up to the task at hand!

But the size deficit doesn’t end there. Let’s return to the central function of size in a democracy - to determine “legitimacy” - acquired by receiving the “consent of the covered”.

The APNU/AFC coalition - which was always there since 2011 in everything but name - was able to get their supporters all riled up by claiming the PPPC wasn’t consulting them. Does Nagamootoo really believe that the 202,000 persons who voted for the PPPC will be ambling along like lambs to the slaughter because they feel APNU/ AFC is “their” government?

But Nagamootoo’s flip remark exposes the mindset of folks like him who’s been struggling their whole lives to “get into power”.

It didn’t matter by what margin. It all boiled down to the size of their egos - not their man-dates.

...in a house

Even though he inherited a very big house on Main Street with his new job, Ngamootoo’s not moving in. But sadly, it’s not because “size isn’t important” and the house is too big. Seems the house isn’t up to his exacting standards. Bids are now being taken to bring the house up to those standards.

We can thus check out what exactly are the Nagamootean house “standards”. The New PM had already complained huffily that the house had plenty “granny sugar” but no air conditioning - not to mention two dead rats in the oven.

The Old PM didn’t think the “granny sugar” was a problem and rather enjoyed the tropical breezes wafting through the windows and jalousies of the old colonial house. Now for $72 million, the house is to be totally air conditioned - which means all the wiring has to be redone to handle all that wattage!!

We guess the size of the bill doesn’t matter to Nagamootoo!!

...in cash holdings?

If the new AML/CFT goes through today, anyone caught with over $10M can have it seized by the cops.

So cops won’t only conduct “stop and searches” of cars...but now, “enter and seize” in homes.

GPL Chairman Winston Brassington

E-Governance Project Head Alexi Ramotar

GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh

Guyoil Managing Director Badrie Persaud

US$150M not enough for CJIA expansion

…Govt to redesign project to suit budget

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project is now up for review and Government is moving with redesigning the original model to suit a cheaper budget.

Under the previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration, the project amounted to some US$150 million. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday announced that the US$150 million identified for the project was far below what was required to complete it. Since the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change

Porter charged for stealing detergent

A38-year-old Porter was brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday where he answered a charge of simple larceny.

Neil Madas of Lot 92 East La Penitence, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh in Court 11 when he was read the charge which stated he stole detergent worth $600 from Aslon Baksh on June 20 while he was working in Queenstown. However, though the accused eloquently admitted to the offence, he stated that he took the detergent for garbage as it was in a bag in the yard and he was cleaning up at the time. Madas stated that he placed the detergent aside for himself when Baksh came and asked for it.

The accused told the court that the Virtual Complainant (VC) made a big deal out of nothing as he told him where it was and what he had thought to do with it but yet the Police was summoned.

Magistrate Singh told the defendant that she is unable to record a guilty plea as his explanation indicates that he did not steal the detergent. She released him on his own recognisance and ordered him to return on July 21 for his trial.

Magistrate Singh told the court that a warrant for his arrest will be kept in the lockups until the completion of his trial if he does not show.

Convicted felon sentenced to 48 months in prison

Aconvicted felon was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday after being found guilty of robbery for the second time.

The felon, 22-year-old Kevin Washington, of 43 Princes Street, Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was found guilty in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

He had pleaded not guilty to stealing a gold cricket band valued $168,000 from Portia Jacobs on March 30. During the trial, it was revealed that he indeed snatched the band from the left hand of the Virtual Complainant (VC) while she was in a taxi on Regent and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.

Although Washington had argued from the start that he did not know the VC and was not there when the article was stolen, this defence was chipped away slowly by the case presented by Police Prosecutor, Inspector Vishnu Hunt. He brought forward sever-

al witnesses, which included the Taxi Driver who was transporting the VC when the crime occurred. The Taxi Driver was able to give a detailed description of the accused and identified him in court. Magistrate Latchman ruled with the knowledge of the prosecution’s case against the accused and also sentenced him based on his last conviction in 2013 for stealing a gold chain valued $1.5 million from Ewan Wharton.

(APNU+AFC) Administration came into office, one of the first tasks undertaken was an extensive investigation into the project.

Public Infrastructure

Minister David Patterson had requested from CJIA management a comprehensive report of the project. At the post-Cabinet press briefing, Harmon

disclosed that Patterson reported to Cabinet that there were several areas of expenditure that were not included in the US$150 million. These include: a car park estimated at US$2.7 million, equipment for the terminal at US$16 million, navigational aids that needed to be changed and upgraded at a cost of US$1.3 million, gener-

ator building and pump house valued at US$60,000, perimeter fence and security lights at US$565,000, relocation of electrical and mechanical engineer department at US$250,000 and relocation of airport operators at US$510,000. There were other areas of expenditure that were not accounted for. Generally, Harmon disclosed that an estimated US$65 million was needed to complete the CJIA Expansion Project in the form it was initially presented.

Further, Harmon reported that some 32 per cent of the money was already utilised, but only six per cent of the work was done. As a result, Cabinet took a decision to review the project and have a different model designed which will see the project being completed with the funds that were left.

Key components of the initial project included: the extension of the runway from 7500 to 10,800 feet – to accommodate the Boeing 747-400 aircraft; doubling of aircraft

positions from four to eight; installation of eight passenger boarding bridges; and the fortification of the CCTV system with approximately 300 cameras. Harmon said with the new model, there will still be the expansion of the runway and a modified airport terminal. He assured that the new project will still aim to make the CJIA up to par with international standards. The existing runway currently creates many limitations in safety owing to the absence of the Runway Extension Safety Area (RESA) and its inability to accommodate larger wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. The congested terminal and parking space constraints for aircraft were among other issues laid on the table when the meeting was convened. The airlines operating out of the CJIA have also been complaining insufficient parking space for aircraft adversely affects their on-time performance.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and other technical officials of the Ministry during a recent tour of the CJIA

This is the second conviction for Kevin Washington

Alleged detergent thief Neil Madas

Govt to probe alleged abuse of Guyoil credit facility

...company unaware of breaches

The new Government said it has uncovered rampant abuse of the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) credit facility extended to state agencies, disclosing that former officials and their relatives have abused the arrangement. It added that stringent rules are in place to stop this.

Government also said that it has demanded a report from Guyoil regarding the state of affairs and those who abused the facility would have to pay for the gas they used. Addressing reporters at his post-Cabinet media briefing, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told reporters on Wednesday

that he was in receipt of information pointing to several individuals of the previous Administration “abusing authority” and gaining access to free fuel from Guyoil.

“We are investigating it; I do have in my possession some evidence that Government personnel in the previous Administration were abusing that facility. We have asked Guyoil to present us with these accounts and these statements and those persons that were drawing fuel and not paying for it will have to pay for it,” Harmon said.

In a subsequent interview with Guyana Times, Guyoil General Manager

Badrie Persaud said this was the first time he was hearing of this. He referred this publication to Guyoil Finance Controller Rosalyn Franklin who explained that the allegations were not true. “They are not true, we do not give free fuel to anyone,” she said.

Franklin explained that the relevant agencies seeking fuel would have to send a purchase order to the gas station and would also have to inform the Guyoil officials of who the authorised signatories were.

However, she said in rare circumstances, the former Ministers would turn up at the gas stations and they would sign the purchase order. But she explained that the purchase order would have to had come directly from the relevant agency, indicating the amount of fuel required for the respective vehicle. Therefore, she explained, a former Government Minister cannot access free fuel from Guyoil unless they have in their possession a purchase order which would have had to come directly from the Ministry.

Govt mulls arming fishermen to combat piracy

Government is considering granting firearm licences to fishermen to help them ward off pirates who have been on a rampage in the Corentyne area over the years.

Piracy has been a sore issue for fishermen, especially in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has began looking at ways at addressing the growing crime situation. Among the proposals being considered to deal with this scourge is allowing fishermen to carry arms while out at sea.

Ramjattan, speaking to the Executives of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, spoke of this measure as one of several to address the issue of piracy on the Corentyne River. He explained that though the fishermen will be allowed to go out to sea with their firearms, when they return, the Police will take charge of the weapons and ammunition. The procedure will be repeated when the

fishermen go back to fish.

“I am keen on something like that because when you are out on the ocean there, it’s like the olden times in America, like you (are) out on the West and you have only a six shooter revolver to defend yourself,” the Minister said. He further explained that the Ministry has to have practical solutions because measures such as having the “Coast Guard vessels watching how you fish” would not be possible as it would be expensive, “So too is having helicopters in various parts of Berbice to respond to calls from fishing boats... just the basic helicopter costs millions much less the sophisticated types,” the Minister pointed out.

“What we would need are some practical solutions,” Minister Ramjattan said as he identified measures such as ensuring better response times by the Police and coast guard units. In this instance, the Minister noted that the latter’s metal shark boats will be put to use. Efforts will also be made to ensure that boats are equipped with ra-

dio systems so that their positions could be tracked. The Minister noted that all these things require additional expenditure on both the part of Government and the fishing community, but what is needed is to ensure “we get it right.” Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had resisted arming fishermen saying back then that instead of empty vessels returning to shore there might be dead bodies. (GINA)

Suspected bandit implicated in Mahaica woman’s murder

Although charged with simple larceny at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, the fate of Zahir Mohamed of Unity Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), now rests on the results of DNA samples taken from Chandrowti Basdeo Persaud, 68, who was found murdered at her home in May.

Mohamed made his first court appearance and was arraigned on a charge of larceny during which personal violence was used. He was remanded to prison.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Wednesday told Guyana Times that during investigation into the larceny matter, it was detected that the manner in which he committed the robbery on Indroutie Narine was similar to the manner in which Persaud was attacked –her mouth was gagged and hands and feet bound.

In addition, Blanhum stated that it was recognised that Mohamed’s hands had several scratch marks, but when questioned, he could

not recall how those marks were inflicted.

During the post-mortem examination conducted on Persaud, Police took samples of human tissue found under her nails which resulted from the elderly woman fighting her attacker.

After taking into consideration with the consistencies in the two incidents, investigators strongly believe that Mohamed might be the murderer and as such, DNA samples were taken from him which will be sent overseas shortly along with the tissue samples taken from under Persaud’s nail to determine whether or not there is a match. The results are expected back within a month.

On Sunday, Mohamed was arrested after he reportedly bound, gagged and robbed Indroutie Narine, a shopkeeper, of $168,000 after gaining entry into her house.

The suspect reportedly turned up at the shop to purchase cigarettes, but forcefully gained entry into the premises, tied up the pensioner, stuffed cloth in her mouth and relieved her of the money and three cartons of cigarettes before fleeing the scene.

Earlier, on May 23, the motionless body of Persaud, of Lot 47 River’s View Squatting Area, Lancaster, Mahaica, ECD, was found by her husband and daughter. Her hands were bound with one of her nightgowns, her mouth was stuffed with a pillow case, and her neck was tied with a bed sheet.

Based on information received, the woman’s bedroom was ransacked and about $800,000 in cash was missing.

The dead woman’s husband, Suraj Persaud, explained that he woke up about 05:20h and called out several times to his wife, but there was no answer. As he opened the woman’s bedroom door, he saw the

place in a mess, with boxes everywhere. He thought something was amiss hence he telephoned his daughter who lives a short distance away.

Within five minutes his daughter arrived at the house and opened her mother’s bedroom door and saw her mother lying on the bed. As she called out to her mother, there was still no answer, so she decided to shake her believing that she was asleep. Upon doing so, she realised that her mother was dead. Two men were arrested, but were subsequently released.

Robbery accused, Zahir Mohamed

Dead pensioner, Chandrowti Basdeo Persaud

The Guyoil Gas Station on Regent Street

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Republic Bank to open branches at Triumph, Rose Hall

...as Alves gives way to Sammy

Republic Bank Guyana Limited has appointed Richard Sammy as its new Managing Director, replacing John Alves who officially retires from the institution next Tuesday. The Bank has also signalled its intention to open up branches at Triumph, East Coast Demerara and Rose Hall on the Corentyne.

This was announced at a formal ceremony to bid farewell to Alves and welcome Sammy. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nigel Baptiste, in an address at the ceremony, described the incoming Managing Director as forward-thinking, solution-seeking and someone who identifies and addresses challenges. Baptiste added that Sammy joined the Republic Bank family six years ago, and brought to the Group his significant experience and expertise in finance, risk, leadership and customer relations.

His record of performance earned him the appointment; he is seen to possess the strongest potential to build on what his predecessors started at Republic Bank Guyana Limited. The Chairman expressed every confidence that Sammy would build solid partnerships in Guyana and take customers’ business to another level.

Sammy, in his remarks, shared that he welcomed the opportunity, and expressed how humbled he was to have been afforded such. He affirmed that he looked forward to rising to the challenge of continuing the duty of care. Care for staff, cus-

tomers, shareholders and the communities served by Republic Bank Guyana Limited. Sammy also committed to maintaining the Bank’s rich heritage of social investments and staff volunteerism; to staying the course of solid, consistent growth and profitability; to understanding and responding to the relevant needs of all stakeholders; to promoting sound governance; and importantly to staying true to the legacy and corporate culture that enrich Republic Bank Guyana Limited and distinguishes the organisation as a leader both in Guyana and the wider Region.

The Managing Director Designate also took the opportunity to express thanks to his family, colleagues, mentors and in particular, outgoing Managing Director Alves, for generously sharing his time, knowledge and expertise during the period of transition. Alves, for

his part, in reflecting on his time at the Bank, said: “It has been quite a journey … starting on September 16, 1974 with the Royal Bank of Canada.”

He said he developed a love for banking and felt very privileged to have had the opportunity to work in the field for so long. “I am filled with immense gratitude for my time with the Bank, for the friendships made; bonds forged; personal growth realised and milestones achieved. One reason why I am grateful for my career at the Bank is because the Bank’s values of integrity, honesty, respect for the individual and professionalism were so aligned with mine. I never had to do anything that remotely compromised my values. Indeed I hope I supported and strengthened the organisation values,” Alves said.

Major pillars

In expressing gratitude, Alves said he has realised that the people, “everyone I have worked with – whether they have helped, supported, coached, inspired or challenged me – our employees, are the major pillars upon which the success of this Bank is built and this resource continues to be our focus as we seek to move them from being just satisfied employees to being engaged employees; we want to strengthen their emotional attachment to the Bank. We continue to provide training and development opportunities to ensure the professional and social development of our team to be the best they

Teen battling for life after suicide bid

Eighteen-year-old Nazeema Rafeek from Jib village on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is battling for her life after she consumed a quantity of gramoxone.

Doctors at Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital have a poor prognosis for recovery, stating that she consumed a large quantity of the poisonous substance. Rafeek was rushed Tuesday evening to the Charity Hospital after being discovered by her mother at their residence.

The teenager drank the herbicide after she learnt that the boy she was in love with asked another girl to marry him. She became very frustrated and wanted to end her life. The entire Jib community has gone into a state of shock.

can be. We have a dynamic group of professionals that make up the Republic Bank Management Team, which reflects the depth and capacity of the Human Resource within the Bank.”

He said he was also indebted to the customers of the various communities “we serve, some of whom are here this evening. It has been a real pleasure to know and serve you, and I wish you continued success. As I reflect on all that the Bank achieved over the past five years, I am very pleased to note the milestones that bear special significance for me: sustained growth and profitability and strengthened relations with our customers; strengthened focus on Small and Medium Enterprises, expanding on

our offer of critical skills development programmes.”

New branches

He said the Bank has also sought to meet the growing needs of its everwidening customer base by establishing branches at Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara, Lethem in the Rupununi District; and most recently a modern new banking facility for the West Bank Berbice community at D’Edward Village.

“I am also pleased to add that we have commenced preliminary work that will see us serving the East Coast Demerara community from Triumph. A new banking facility for Rose Hall is also on the agenda for the future,” Alves said. He added that the Bank recently

reclaimed the lead position for customer service in the local financial service sector.

“We know, however, that we must not be complacent, but continue to look for ways to improve our customer service. Our focus on community development also saw us increasing our social investments in our communities. Under our Power to Make a Difference community initiative, we recently entered a new four-year period of commitments –totalling $200 million towards a number of local initiatives.” He said too that it was with much pride and appreciation that the Bank accepted the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in 2014.

PPP/C to Westford:

“Let the law take its course”

Former Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira on Wednesday told media operatives that the law should take its course when asked about how former Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford should be dealt with for allegedly trying to fraudulently transfer a number of state vehicles to her associates and friends.

The former Minister has been accused of trying to transfer at least eight Government vehicles, property of the Public Service Ministry, into the names of herself, spouse and close associates. The vehicles have since been returned to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Sharief.

Asked how the Government should proceed with the matter, Teixeira stated that the first thing that is to be done is to investigate and see if the story has any merit. Then, based on what is found, the Government should act accordingly. She added that

many court cases have been thrown out on small technicalities, so she would advise that the investigations be properly and thoroughly carried out in accordance with laws and protocols that are in place when it comes to such matters. Teixeira noted that this was how she would expect the Government to deal with such a matter, although, she added that “some of their behaviour

show that they don’t mean to do that”.

The former Presidential Adviser stated that PPP/C has always stood by the law and would not hesitate to uphold the laws regardless as to who it may be. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Saturday confirmed that the Guyana Police Force had initiated an investigation into reports of fraud at the Public Service Ministry, which was headed by Dr Westford. President David Granger later disclosed that Government was in possession of evidence that shows several state vehicles being transferred to Westford and her spouse, who is a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force. The evidence also points to two senior officials within the Ministry. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had noted that irregularities were recognised on documents from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) which indicated that vehicles were being transferred to the four persons.

Former Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford

Managing Director Designate Richard Sammy

thursday, june 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

UG must be streamlined

… if Guyana to reap benefits of oil, gas – CGX

With the lucrative prospects from the activities of oil and gas exploration in Guyana, Government must now introduce relevant courses at the University of Guyana to cater for this takeoff.

While Head of State, President David Granger has already committed to the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to secure the future of the youth, oil giant Canadian-based CGX Inc said more needs to be done regarding the quality of education being offered to students at UG for the rewarding Industry.

Sunil Narine recently told a group of stakeholders at a forum that the oil and gas sector; a major enhancement to any economy, will do wonders for Guyana’s fiscal footing. Unfortunately for him, the country’s premier university is “nowhere near where it needs to be to prepare people for the oil and gas industry”.

And because of the state at which education is at the moment, even if there were to be a start now, there will still be a shortage of people.

“What needs to be done, it’s not just Petroleum engineers, it’s not just plumbing, and it’s not just stevedore

CGX Inc has been in Guyana for some 15 years and is among a number of companies which have been seeking to benefit from Guyana’s promising oil reserves. Just recently, United States-based exploration company ExxonMobil reported the discovery of oil after drilling for a few weeks at its Stabroek off Shore block location. This was after it had some weeks before declared that it had hit hydrocarbons at the exact location.

CGX’s Chairman of the board in Guyana, Professor

men. Its environmentalists who will find work in this sector, the tertiary jobs all the way through and I think that it is imperative of our country that we map that”, Narine related.

He spoke to an experience in one of Canada’s provinces which was much similar to Guyana in its economic activities when its fishery industry had suddenly gone out of business when it made a giant oil find. That province, he recalled had to “bootstrap” itself in order for it to be able to service the industry.

“While the learning is there, we need to begin that conversation”, Narine, who is also head of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) at UG, said about the institution.

Another example he used was Algeria which has a booming oil and gas industry, but is unable to utilise it wisely. He said the only natives engaged in the industry are the labourers and those involved in the “thriving” prostitution trade.

“We want to avoid that in Guyana. We really need to begin training since a lot of money is being spent, he remarked. According to him, training should not just be focused on University level but also on technical education.

Narine said Guyana and the rest of the Region receives a mere 0.3 per cent of all foreign investments in the world. According to him, if there are oil and gas reserves, the education that is needed to take care of it is not just oil and gas and petroleum engineers. “There is need for a clarion call in Guyana to address this”, Narine said Narine pointed to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes present in the oil companies here. He stressed that there is enough advocacies to ensure that the country coffers does not have to “come up with all that… We can encourage those companies to co invest in education,” Narine posited.

He said if the Government is careful about the situation, it will ensure that oil and gas are invested in sustainable industries like Agriculture, tourism,

the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

Added to his concerns about education and human capital in the emerging sector, Narine added that the smallest Guyanese could also benefit.

“One of the things I pledged to when I became Chairman some four years ago, was that I would ensure that the next time there is a financing, brokers would come to Guyana and allow

Guyanese to invest. Narine encouraged Guyanese to become involved, particularly if they were interested in buying stocks.

“This is our national patrimony and it is important that you understand how you can benefit from that patrimony, other than sitting back passively and waiting for royalties from the oil and gas company to come in, there are a number of other things you could do. He said

there are a number of opportunities in the service sector, things like the wharf, Stevedore, plumbing and investments. “If you have disposable come see us. There are different ways of taking advantage of that. He said that the company, which is also based here, had spent more money in Guyana compared to any other oil companies in Guyana and intends to continue doing so.

Govt to work closely with Iwokrama towards strengthening its agenda

President David Granger has given a commitment to work closely with Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, with the aim of restructuring the agenda, following a meeting with the Agency’s Head, Dane Gobin. Gobin, along with Conservationist, Retired Major General Joe Singh, and Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman were a part of the discussions with the President on Wednesday. According to Minister Trotman, the discussion was centred on how Government could sustain the Centre as it has had some challenges within recent times. “We are looking to see how we can actually reshape the agenda for its work, how we can make it more a place of excellence, and of education for not just Guyanese, but for the Region, and students coming to Guyana to study and most importantly how do we preserve this for Guyana.”

Minister Trotman said he is of the belief that Guyanese are not fully aware of Iwokrama and have never fully bought into it and embraced it, “So the new thrust would be making it part of our patrimony that we can be proud of it, that we would want to visit it, to support if financially, protect and preserve it, so we are excited about the discussions and hopefully a paper will be presented to Cabinet shortly on the way forward.”

Iwokrama was given as a gift to the Commonwealth by then President Desmond Hoyte which was endorsed by President Jagan when he came into power. Dedicated as a place for research “to develop, demonstrate, and make available to Guyana and the international community systems, methods and techniques for the sustainable management and utilisation of the multiple resources of the tropical forest and the conservation of biological diversity”, the Iwokrama rainforest is located in the geographical heart of Guyana.

Comprises 371,000 hectares of forest – 1.6 per cent of Guyana’s landmass and two per cent of Guyana’s forests – Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development was established in 1996 to manage the forest area, following the signing the year before of an international agreement between the Guyana Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Enshrined in an Act of the Guyana Parliament, the agreement gave the Centre the mandate to “promote the conservation and the sustainable and equitable use of tropical rainforests in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general”. The Centre has the task to test the proposition that conservation, environmental balance and sustainable economic activity are mutually reinforcing, that it is possible to use a forest without losing it.

(GINA)

President David Granger along with Chief Executive Officer of Iwokrama Dane Gobin, Retired Major General Joe Singh and Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman shortly before the convening of a meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday

The University of Guyana, the country’s premier tertiary institution

CGX’s Co-Chairman, Professor Suresh Narine

Broomes’ ban on PSC unconstitutional – Chief Justice

Chief Justice Ian Chang on Wednesday ruled that Junior Minister of the Social Protection Ministry Simona Broomes, violated the Constitution of Guyana when she issued a ban on the Public Service Commission (PSC) ordering the body to cease all interviews for vacant positions in various public offices until further directed by President David Granger.

Earlier this month, Attorney Euclin Gomes moved to the courts to have the decision by Broomes reversed, saying that it is his “national duty” to ensure that those entrusted with the sovereignty of Guyana act in due compliance with the Constitution when discharging their public functions and constitutional duties.

Public Service and more particularly within the Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security (now Ministry of Social Protection) and these interviews are to be conducted tomorrow. Please be advised that all interviews and meetings of the Commission are to cease forthwith until further as instructed by his Excellency, the President, David Arthur Granger’s notice.”

Attorney in the court documents, Article 201 states: “subject to the provision of this Constitution, the power to make appointments to public offices and to remove and to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices shall vest in the Public Service Commission”.

On May 28, Broomes issued a letter to the Secretary of the Public Service Commission, advising that all interviews and meetings of the Commission are to be ceased forthwith until instructed by President David Granger.

The letter stated “It has been brought to my attention that there are alleged clandestine efforts to fill vacancies within the

According to Gomes in the court documents, this action is a violation of the Constitution, hence it is null and void. Therefore, Gomes asked the court to issue a declaration that “… in the exercise of its functions, that Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”.

In addition, the Attorney had requested that the court to declare that the letter issued by Broomes to the PSC

Opadeyi defiant against petition to oust him

...seeking legal advice on possible character defamation

Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Guyana (UG), Jacob Opadeyi said he, along with his lawyer, is currently studying the documents sent out by members of the workers’ union calling for his immediate resignation, to ascertain what legal course of action could be taken against them for the defamation of his character.

In essence, the VC maintains that he will not buckle under the pressure being driven by “the community of workers” who serve a population of more than 8000 students.

The two Unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) – have signed a petition signalling a vote of NoConfidence in the Professor in his capacity as Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana.

The Unions said they “have no confidence in his ability to administer the affairs of the University of Guyana, the premier educational institution of the country”.

In a statement to the press, the Unions said the Professor, who has the responsibility for the day to day management of the institution is responsible for infractions which they said are either illegal, based on the laws of Guyana and Statutes of the University of Guyana and unethical as they are opposed to the best interest of the Institution.

The Unions said Opadeyi has been blatant in his disregard for the Terms of Resumption Agreement signed March 2, earlier this year between them and the

University’s administration. Added to that they say is the “eroding the powers of the Academic Board as prescribed in the statutes of the University of Guyana; compromising academic quality and integrity for the sake of cutting costs; a dictatorial, vindictive, micromanagement leadership style that is characterised by dishonest and deliberately misleading communications; altering terms and condition of work without consultation with employees; failure to honour contracts with employees including Illegally withholding legitimate payments due to staff; circumvention and breach of university financial systems, practices and procedures; financial mismanagement and impropriety including but not limited to system override at the bursary; repeated failure to meet legal obligations to transfer deductions from workers’ salaries to various bodies and the failure to provide a safe and healthy working environment.”

The Unions continued that the “exorbitant executive cost and size with little consideration for UG’s

indebtedness, poor productivity of the executive, unjustly and dishonestly staining the public image of the University and its staff, and general failure to act in the best interest of the University are all the more reasons why the VC must leave office.

With consideration for the aforementioned infractions and in the interest of the University of Guyana and the nation it serves, we petition the Council of the University of Guyana to remove Professor Opadeyi as a matter of urgency. We further petition the Minister of Education, The Honourable Dr Rupert Roopnaraine; and His Excellency David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, acting through appropriate parliamentary and consultative mechanisms, to ensure that the Council of the University of Guyana acts in the interest of the University and the nation of Guyana”, the Unions said.

Opadeyi has been at the helm of the University’s administration since 2012, but had come under fire earlier this year when the unions staged an almost six-week protest.

Staff members had publicly demanded a 60 per cent increase in salary from the University. Apart from the 60 per cent salary increase, staff members had also been clamouring for a 200 per cent increase in their travelling allowance, a better medical scheme, increases in allowances for books and other materials, dutyfree concessions and yearly research grants. An agreement was later reached between the groups.

Secretary is “clearly in violation of the letter and spirit of Article 38(G), 201 and 226 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana”.

According to the

He further pointed out that Article 226 (1) says “save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, in the exercise of its functions under this Constitution a Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority” while adding that Article 38(G) of the Constitution guarantees the integrity of the Public Service and further insulates it from political influence.

Gomes underscore that

the abovementioned letter is in flagrant violation of those three Constitutional Articles. The matter was first heard on June 17 where a representative from the Attorney General Chambers’ requested time to file a response on behalf of Government. The court document named new Attorney General Basil Williams the defendant in the matter. Justice Chang then granted the Government time and adjourned the matter to Wednesday’s date, where he ruled that Broomes’ action is in contradiction with the Constitution. According to the Chief Justice, the Public Service Commission is an independent body and such interferences, prevents it from acting within its jurisdiction. “Nobody can do that,” he concluded.

Chief Justice Ian Chang

Junior Social Protection Minister Simona Broomes

UG Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi

Leaders of Colombia’s Clan Usuga criminal gang indicted

The United States has indicted 17 alleged members of one of Colombia’s largest criminal gangs, Clan Usuga.

cials.

“We will continue to act strongly against these criminals who poison our youth, who sow violence, who promote corruption not only in Colombia but across the world,” said Santos.

The US has previously offered up to US$5 million for information leading to Otoniel’s arrest.

Otoniel has been in charge since his brother, Juan de Dios, was killed on January 1, 2012 when Police raided his New Year’s Eve party.

The gang is mainly engaged in drug trafficking, but it has also been accused of extortion, illegal mining, forced disappearances and murder, says the BBC’s Natalio Cosoy in Bogota.

Colombian Police estimate the gang has some 2000 active members.

Antigua PM calls for EU to apologise, withdraw tax haven list

Antigua and Barbuda has written to the European Union’s representative in the Caribbean, strongly objecting to the twin-island nation being named a tax haven and calling on the EU to apologise and withdraw the list.

In a strongly-worded letter to Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Ambassador Mikael Barford, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Antigua and Barbuda’s placement on the list was “unjust”.

the EU and Caribbean countries,” Browne said, as he called on the EU Commission to apologise for “the damage it has done to the jurisdiction of Antigua and Barbuda” and to publicly rescind the “flawed and injurious list”.

Last week, the European Commission published a list of 30 jurisdictions, including Antigua and Barbuda and 13 other Caribbean countries, considered the world’s worst tax havens because they were not doing enough to crackdown on tax avoidance.

The United States says it will try to secure the extradition of the alleged Clan Usuga members.

The announcement of the indictments was made by President Juan Manuel Santos in Bogota, at a joint media conference with American offi-

The charges have been brought by courts in New York and Miami, which accuse the gang of exporting more than 73 tonnes of cocaine into the US since 2002. Most of the 17 people charged are still at large, including gang leader Dairo Antonio Usuga David, known as Otoniel.

Over the past five years, the security forces have captured 6700 members of the group.

“Your operatives will continue to be dismantled; they will be captured and your Government, our ally in Colombia, will work with us to secure your extradition,” said Wifredo Ferrer, US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida at the presidential palace in Bogota.

Scandal: Warner exposes more alleged corruption, PM dismisses new claims

Immediate dismissals from Jitnarine Hardeen and the Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

That was what embattled Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner received Tuesday following his latest tapes, alleged to be former Minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh’s former driver Hardeen doing a wide-ranging “expose” on alleged People’s Partnership intrigue and corruption.

During a news conference at the Normandie, St Ann’s, Warner played the tapes, focusing on the Kristyan Gokool matter, again claiming he had to warn T&T about the Prime Minister, since she was “unfit for office”.

“The Prime Minister says Kristyan Gokool is her neighbour. I’m saying they are more than neighbourly,” Warner claimed.

to come out of his box with these delusional claims.”

Asked Tuesday by reporters if he had any information to verify it was Hardeen on the tapes, Warner said if the need arose for other evidence “they shall be produced”.

Warner said he had given the same tapes to the Integrity Commission since 2013 and the tapes allegedly told of “sleaze, graft, corruption, sexual misconduct and misbehaviour in public office”.

“In damaging the reputation of Antigua and Barbuda – and many other Caribbean countries that appear on the extremely defective list – the EU Commission may well have infringed the terms of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between

Each country was identified by at least 10 EU countries. In the case of Antigua and Barbuda, those countries were Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Spain, which Browne said his country did little or no business with. (Excerpt

US to sign multimilliondollar loan

agreement with Jamaica

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the Private Sector lending arm of the United States Government is to sign a US$48 million loan agreement with Jamaica for a 20-megawatt solar facility.

the Obama Administration, OPIC has focused on development of renewable energy.

“When we came into office six years ago OPIC was supporting about US$10 million a year of renewable energy investment. Over those five years we’ve seen that grow from US$10 million a year to over US$1 billion a year in each of the last two years,” he said.

“There will be a response from me on this very soon, That’s all I have to say for now.”

Persad-Bissessar, in an immediate response to Warner’s various claims,

However, when contacted on Warner’s tapes later, an angry sounding Hardeen said: “That is not my voice on any tape! It is a total fabrication.

Peru mass grave contains bodies of 17 killed in 1980s

Prosecutors in Peru say they have found a mass grave containing 17 bodies high in the Andes, in the Ayacucho region.

The bodies are believed to be those of local farmers kidnapped by the Shining Path rebel group in the 1980s.

Forensic experts said it was clear the 17 had been killed but not by whom.

Almost 70,000 people were killed in the two-decades-long conflict between the

also dismissed the allegation, saying Tuesday night they were “more delusional claims which my lawyers will deal with.

“He (Warner) has to answer to the US Attorney General and the FBI for his racketeering, money laundering and fraudulent wire transfers, so he seeks

Peruvian Government and the Maoist rebels, according to figures by Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Prosecutor Honorio Casallo Diaz said investigations carried out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission suggested the farmers had been abducted in the 1980s from the town of Vilcashuaman by members of the Maoist Shining Path guerrilla group. They had been missing ever since. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Asked if he had made a complaint to the Commission about the PM and Ramadharsingh –on which his claims focused –Warner said he gave the Integrity Commission the tapes and said “...make your own judgement... I don’t have to make a complaint.” He said he did not go to the Police as the Police may have been compromised.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

OPIC chief of staff, John Morton, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) on the sidelines of a conference in Jamaica on Island Energy Transitions, that he will sign the agreement on Thursday with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.

“That’s on the back of a 38-megawatt wind project that we supported in the island last year. So in only a year, with two projects, our agency is supporting about 10 per cent of the island’s energy supply,” he said.

Morton said that over the last five years under

“We have been particularly excited and thrilled to be part of that energy revolution happening around the world and here in the Caribbean. Over the last year we’ve begun to develop an extraordinarily big pipeline of projects in the Region.”

A year ago, the Obama Administration launched the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative. (Excerpt from CMC)

Jamaica Govt takes steps to secure public websites after hacked

The Jamaican Government says it is taking urgent steps to ensure the security of public sector websites, following the hacking of its information agency, the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Monday night.

A team of investigators from the Communication and Cybercrime Forensic Unit and the Major Organized Crime and AntiCorruption Agency of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and members of the Computer Incident Response Team assisted in identifying the

source of the attacks.

In addition to jis.gov.jm, five websites hosted by the JIS were also defaced. Those were: the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, GC Foster College, Social Development Commission (SDC), Houses of Parliament and Jamaica National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Preliminary findings revealed that the attempts of the “hacktivists” at breaching the system did not

result in access to sensitive information, but was constrained to “surface defacement”.

JIS confirmed that no data was corrupted.

Speaking with JIS News Tuesday, Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Julian Robinson, said that since a breach last year, “we have acquired well-needed equipment, trained a number of officers and have been focusing on ensuring that systems are resilient and robust in the face of threats”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Security forces deployed in March to try to catch Dairo Usuga found luxury items in a hut used as a hide-out in western Colombia

T&T Guardian senior reporter Sascha Wilson outside the home of Kristyan Gokool at Lengua Road, Barrackpore, seeking an interview with him

Greek debt crisis: Tsipras turns on creditors

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has criticised Greece’s international creditors for failing to accept his Government’s latest reform proposals.

He said this never occurred with similar measures put forward by other states negotiating bailouts, suggesting creditors might not want a deal.

Tsipras’ remarks came before he began new talks to secure a debt deal.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he was “not optimistic” about reaching a deal on Wednesday.

Greece must repay €1.6 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by the end of the month, or face default and possible exit from the EU.

Eurozone Finance Ministers had been due to finalise a deal on Wednesday evening, but their meeting finished without a resolution. They are expected to resume their discussions at 13:00h local time (11:00 GMT) on Thursday.

Reuters news agen-

cy quoted a Greek official as saying negotiations between Athens and its lenders were ongoing and would continue after Wednesday’s Ministers’ meeting.

Earlier the ECB again increased additional emergency funding for Greek banks to stave off fears of a bank run – the fifth time in eight days it has done so as fearful savers withdraw up to €1

billion a day from domestic banks.

Tsipras has been meeting the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the IMF – the trio evaluating his proposals. They are hoping to finalise a deal that would release further loans to Greece before it runs out of money. (Excerpt from BBC News)

UN peacekeepers face

new sex abuse claims in CAR

The United Nations peacekeeping contingent serving in the Central African Republic are accused of sexually abusing street children in Bangui, a UN spokesman has said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the latest incident was the third case of alleged child sexual abuse involving peacekeepers in the CAR to have surfaced in recent months.

“If the allegations are substantiated, this would constitute a grave violation of UN principles and of the code of conduct of peacekeepers,” Dujarric said on Tuesday.

The UN mission in Bangui has notified the troop-contributing country of the new allegations and has opened an investigation, Dujarric said.

The country of origin was not identified, but a UN official said it was an African contingent.

The “member-state will be requested to take swift and appropriate punitive action,” he added.

In the wake of previous cases, the UN MINUSCA force asked Morocco to open a formal investigation after allegations that one of its soldiers raped a girl under the age of 16.

A UN report by rights

investigators last year detailed testimony from children in the Central African Republic who said they were sexually abused by French troops and soldiers from Chad and Equatorial Guinea.

The sexual abuse allegedly took place from December 2013 to June 2014, a few months before the United Nations took over from the African Union mission with its MINUSCA force.

Last week, a UN report said that South African soldiers face the most accusations of sexual abuse while on UN peacekeeping missions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Asia overtakes Europe in private wealth, says BCG

Asia has overtaken Europe as the world’s second-richest region, according to an annual report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

The Asia Pacific, excluding Japan, held US$47 trillion in private wealth last year as the number of new millionaires rose in China and India.

North America is the world’s richest region with

US$51 trillion, but is expected to be surpassed by Asia in 2016.

Asia is also projected to hold 34 per cent of global wealth in 2019.

Overall, global private financial wealth grew by nearly 12 per cent last year to US$164 trillion, lifted by strong gains in the stock and bond markets.

“A strong “’old world versus new world’ dynamic was

Around the World

Morgues overflow in Pakistan as heatwave toll nears 800

The death toll from a severe heatwave in southern Pakistan is edging towards 800, with the threat of more deaths to come as temperatures remain unseasonably high for the fourth consecutive day, officials have told Al Jazeera.

At least 775 people have died of heatstroke, dehydration or other heat-related illnesses in Karachi, the country’s largest city, since Saturday, according to government figures.

“The mortuary is overflowing, they are piling bodies one on top of the other,” said Dr Seemin Jamali, a

senior official at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the city’s largest Government hospital.

“We are doing everything that is humanly possible here,” she said, adding that since Saturday, the JPMC had seen more than 8000 patients with heat-related symptoms. Of those, 384 patients had died, she said.

“Until [Tuesday] night, it was unbelievable. We were getting patients coming into the emergency ward every minute,” she said.

Among those who have died, most have been either elderly or poor, officials say.

On Wednesday, the grounds outside the JPMC’s Emergency Ward are teeming with people, many seeking relief goods such as blocks of ice, cold water and juices from one of the many aid tents that have sprung up here overnight. Inside the ward, the crowds have begun to lessen.

“Mostly people coming here are facing heatstroke and they are old people. Their ages are around 45 to 50 years old, so the older they are, the more serious problems they are facing,” Junaid Ahmad, a volunteer, told Reuters news agency. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Pakistan’s MQM “received Indian funding”

the Mohajir community

Officials in Pakistan’s Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party have told the UK authorities they received Indian Government funds, the BBC learnt from an authoritative Pakistani source.

UK authorities investigating the MQM for alleged money laundering also found a list of weapons in an MQM property.

A Pakistani official has

told the BBC that India has trained hundreds of MQM militants over the last 10 years.

The Indian authorities described the claims as “completely baseless”. The MQM said it was not going to comment.

With 24 members in the National Assembly, the MQM has long been a dominant force in the politics of Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi.

British authorities held formal recorded interviews with senior MQM officials who told them the party was receiving Indian funding, the BBC was told.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani official has told the BBC that India has trained hundreds of MQM militants in explosives, weapons and sabotage over the last 10 years in camps in north and north-east India.

Before 2005-2006 the training was given to a small number of mid-ranking members of the MQM, the official said.

More recently greater numbers of more junior party members have been trained.

The claims follow the statement of a senior Karachi Police Officer that two arrested MQM militants said they had been trained in India. In April, Rao Anwar gave details of how the two men went to India via Thailand to be trained by the Indian intelligence agency RAW. (Excerpt from BBC News)

4 soldiers killed as Emirates targeted in Somalia

Aobserved, with the so-called new world growing at a far faster pace,” the report said.

“As in both 2012 and 2013, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) remained the fastestgrowing region in 2014.

“By contrast, growth rates in all ‘old world’ regions remained in the single digits, led by Western Europe and North America, and with Japan lagging somewhat behind.” (BBC News)

car bomb targeting a bulletproof vehicle carrying diplomats from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has killed at least 12 people, including four Somali soldiers, in Mogadishu.

Local officials said that the Emiratis were unharmed.

In a statement to Al Jazeera, the armed group alShabab claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack in Mogadishu.

“We targeted a vehicle carrying the enemies of Somalia,” Abdulaziz Abu Muscab said.

Muscab later told the Reuters news agency that

the attack targeted UAE nationals. They were military trainers, Hussein Afrah, a Somali military officer, told Reuters, confirming the intended targets were not hurt.

The explosion happened near a Defence Ministry hospital and heavy gunfire was heard soon afterwards.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as civilians fled through nearby alleys while soldiers fired in the air to prevent a crowd from gathering. Civilians carried victims to nearby hospitals.

“The explosion was very heavy and it destroyed the pick-up truck,” said Hassan Bile, an eyewitness.

Nick Kay, the United Nations envoy to Somalia, condemned the “utterly cruel” attack, saying he had spoken to the UAE Ambassador, Mohamed Al Osmani, who was not harmed in the explosion.

Al-Shabab has vowed to step up attacks against the Government of Somalia during the month of Ramadan. Since the start of Ramadan, there have been at least 10 assassinations in the capital targeting Government officials. Somalia has been wracked by instability since the collapse of Siad Barre’s hardline regime in 1991.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras meets European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker ahead of talks on June 24

The MQM has a loyal support base among

thursday, june 25, 2015|

IDB sets July deadline for Govt to decide on Amaila Falls Project

Government has disclosed that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has wrapped up an economic feasibility study on the Amaila Fall Hydropower Project and was slated to make its presentation to Head of State David Granger on Wednesday afternoon.

This was announced by Minister of State Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday at the Ministry of the Presidency. Harmon said the IDB Vice President, its General Manager of the Caribbean Department and their teams were in Guyana conducting the study regarding the economic viability of the hydropower project.

He said once the Government is presented with the information, it will then hold discus-

sions to decide on a way forward for Amaila. The new Government has an early July deadline in which it has to respond to the IDB about the future of the project. “We have to say something to them about whether we will continue with Amaila. We need to take a decision on that very quickly,” Harmon said.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower project has sparked much controversy since it was presented in Parliament. The project had hit a snag when the then Opposition derailed the passage of a critical piece of legislation back in 2012 causing a major investor to walk away.

The previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was bent on forging ahead with the project if it had regained

executive power.

The plant, with the proposed location at the confluence of the Amaila and Kuribrong Rivers, was expected to deliver electricity to Guyana’s capital, Georgetown, and its second largest town, Linden, by a transmission line.

The project, when completed, will immediately provide local communities with employment as well as the opportunity for expanded sales of goods and services. The plant was expected to lower average wholesale energy costs while spurring additional economic investment, resulting in more jobs and stronger infrastructure. After 20 years of operation, the ownership of the project would have been transferred to Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

Rabobank Foundation, FAO to expand partnership

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Dutch Rabobank Foundation will scale up their collaboration after two years of successful initiatives in East Africa.

“This is a flagship partnership for FAO,” Director General José Graziano da Silva said in an address Tuesday to the foodFIRST conference, which this year is focused on the future of farming and food security in Africa. In 2013, FAO and Rabobank Foundation began a partnership by collaborating on three projects in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya, all oriented to improving smallholder farmers’ incomes, access to financial tools and ability to invest in more efficient production of food crops.

Building on the progress achieved so far, the two institutions now intend to ramp up their pilot projects and establish similar collaborations in other countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

“We believe that working together with an organisation like FAO can accelerate the realisation of our mutual goals,” said Pierre van Hedel, Managing Director of Rabobank Foundation.

“We highly appreciate FAO’s long-term commitment and vision with regard to the topic of food security, which is

needed for smallholder development.”

“No one organisation can eradicate hunger and reduce poverty alone,” FAO’s leader said at the conference. “Only in partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders can we achieve this.”

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), was also present at the event.

The three initial joint projects in Africa all have focused on boosting food security through rural agricultural development. In Tanzania, FAO and Rabobank Foundation are supporting access to financial services by organisations representing rice farmers in the Morogoro district. Greater yields from a new FAO-backed cultivation system are providing the incentive to invest in warehouses, which will allow farmers to store their output and sell it when seasonal prices are higher.

In Kenya, farmers working within a conservation agriculture project will have better access to loans in the form of seeds thanks to an initiative being developed by the partners. In Ethiopia, FAO and the Rabobank Foundation are working with local microfinance lenders to select rural farming coopera-

Commonwealth Magistrates & Judges’ Association to hold conference in Guyana in 2016

The Guyana Government has pledged its full support to the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges’ Association as they gear up to host a regional conference here next year.

According to the Attorney General, Dr Brewer is visiting Guyana as the Association has proposed to host a regional conference in this country in September 2016.

tives that can tap into value chains, generating more jobs.

Founded in 1973 and based in the Netherlands, Rabobank Foundation is a corporate foundation funded by the Rabobank Group, which donates a percentage of its annual profits to the foundation’s activities. Its main activity is to support cooperatives and member-based organisations through microfinance mechanisms. The Foundation assists small farmers and their cooperatives in rural areas of 24 Latin American, African and Asian countries.

Graziano da Silva also met Tuesday with Rabobank Chairman Wiebe Draijer and Executive Board member Berry Marttin and agreed to work together on initiatives aimed at increasing access to seeds for smallholders in Africa and on increasing local purchases from family farmer cooperatives, especially those representing women, in West Africa. They also agreed that FAO and Rabobank Foundation will jointly explore ways to support more data and information sharing through mobile technology and to increase young farmers’ access to technology in general. Graziano da Silva met with Sharon Dijksma, the Minister for Agriculture of the Netherlands, who spoke at the conference.

On Wednesday, Secretary General of the Association, Dr Karen Brewer met with Head of State, David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency. Also attending the meeting were Attorney General Basil Williams; Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Carl Singh; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, the Government Information Agency (GINA).

“She is just doing a familiarisation visit, and checking on the question in relation to preparedness for that conference,” Attorney General Williams said.

President Granger has given the Association the assurance that Guyana is ready, willing and able to host such a conference and that they will enjoy the cooperation of the Government to that end, Williams said.

The Association was founded in 1970

as the Commonwealth Magistrates’ Association and the current name was adopted in 1988. The Association is registered as a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom. The objectives of this Association include advancing the administration of the law by promoting the independence of the judiciary; advancing education in the law, the administration of justice, the treatment of offenders and the prevention of crime within the Commonwealth; and to disseminate information and literature on all matters of interest concerning the legal process within the various countries comprising the Commonwealth.

Nonpareil man died from fractured skull – autopsy

An autopsy performed on the body of Ragunandaan Persaud, also called Ryan, 27, of Lot 464 Section B, Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara, who was lashed to his head during a robbery a short distance from his home on Sunday evening proved that he died from a fractured skull.

The post- mortem examination was performed by local pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Wednesday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary, and revealed that the young man died from haemorrhaging in the brain due to a fractured skull.

As Police continue their investigation into the incident, they are in the process of acquiring the Close Circuit TV (CCTV) footage which will be reviewed for images of the two men who committed the murder. Guyana Times understands that a team of Information Technology (IT) specialists from the Criminal Investigation Department travelled up to the village to retrieve the footage. In addition, a senior Police rank

told this publication that the man with whom Persaud had the argument on the night of the incident was released.

The construction worker sustained head injuries which were inflicted by a “road apple” (a piece of wood used on a horse cart), wielded by one of the perpetrators during the attack. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital late Sunday evening. Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that Persaud and a cousin, Navin (only name given) were heading home from a

Chinese restaurant in the village when they were confronted by the two men who were earlier seen at the restaurant. During the attack, one of the men picked up the “road apple” which he swung at Persaud, who managed to fend it off with his hands. The second swing was the fatal blow. The wood reportedly struck Persaud to his temple resulting in him falling to the roadway. The two men then accosted the cousin who they relieved of the money he had in his pocket after which they dived into Persaud’s pocket and collected the money he was carrying that he had won from a cockfight earlier in the night. They also took away a blue pedal cycle belonging to Navin. It was reported that the two perpetrators might have been monitoring Persaud’s movements since they were seen at the cockfight and again in the street where the now dead man resided. They would have also seen him collecting his winnings at the illegal event. The young man leaves to mourn his parents and two siblings.

Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges’ Association Secretary General, Dr Karen Brewer with Head of State, David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency. Also in photo are: Attorney General Basil Williams (second from right); Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh (second from left); Minister of State, Joseph Harmon (extreme right), and Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman (extreme left)

Dead, Ragunandaan Persaud

An artist's impression of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

thursday, june 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Business community alarmed at spike in crime

… Govt says working to address

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

The rapid increase in the number of criminal activities over the last few weeks is not only worrying to the ordinary man but the Private Sector community in Guyana is also deeply concerned about the upsurge and the impact it is having on business activities.

The situation appears to be worsening progressively with reports of two to three murders, robberies and road accidents on a daily basis.

Some of the most glaring reports of crime within the last few weeks include that of the Berbice man who

went berserk, attempted to kill his former reputed wife, her brother and a friend, burnt down her mother’s home and then killed himself; another Berbice man had hacked his ex-wife and her new lover to death; an infant was shot five times; and a man was shot dead in a daring minibus robbery.

Speaking on behalf of the Private Sector was Captain Gerald Gouveia, who in an invited comment, admitted that the sudden upsurge in crime definitely took the business community by surprise.

“It is surprising that we have seen this spike in murder and criminal activities,” he registered, noting that this situation is engaging the attention of Private Sector stakeholders. Gouveia explained that there were always incidents of crime, but this sudden increase is extremely worrying.

He disclosed that the Private Sector is currently trying to meet with Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and the National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to have a serious discussion about this disturbing situation.

situation

At the moment, Gouveia said the Private Sector is engaging its members and advising them of ways to heighten security to protect their businesses from criminal attacks.

Head of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Norman McLean also registered his concerns over the spate of crime in Guyana.

McLean acknowledged that this rise has certainly impacted every businessman in a negative way, as both consumers and entrepreneurs are in a state of apprehension as this crime wave continues to take over the country.

28 vehicles were transferred in 1 day – Harmon

Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Government is in receipt of information that there are many more state assets which are still missing, while disclosing that records show as many as 28 vehicles were transferred to private individuals in one day.

The vehicles were transferred days before the May 11 Election. Harmon explained that upon occupying office, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration realised that several state assets accounted for were nowhere to be found. Harmon disclosed that the Government has been receiving countless calls from concerned individuals who claim to have information regarding the whereabouts of some of the missing state assets.

“Every morning, you are getting reports about two vehicles gone somewhere, they take off the number plates and somebody throws canvas over it,” he stated. One such report was that just before the hosting of the 2015 General and Regional Elections, some 28 Government vehicles were transferred to private individuals. The

new Administration had established a State Asset Recovery Unit which will be tasked with the responsibility of tracking down these missing assets and returning them to its respective agencies.

The Unit will be under the watch of Professor Clive Thomas, a prolific Caribbean economist. Government is currently in the process of assembling persons to function in the State Asset Recovery Unit. Harmon was insistent in his calls for those individuals to return the state’s assets so that the

new Government can move forth with dealing with more pertinent matters.

“Bring them in, I don’t want to come after you… help this Government to look forward by bringing in the assets because we will have to send people after you if you don’t,” he said.

Only recently, former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford was fingered as one of those former Ministers who transferred state assets into her name. Reports indicate that Dr Westford, her partner and two senior officials from the Ministry transferred some eight vehicles from the Public Service Ministry to their names. Westford and the other persons have since returned the vehicles. Harmon had noted that irregularities were recognised on documents from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) which indicated that eight vehicles were being transferred to the four persons. However, it appeared that after these individuals were placed under public pressure, they opted to return the vehicles. Harmon disclosed that five of the vehicles were returned on Friday and the remaining three were returned sometime prior.

He too recognised the suddenness in the upsurge, noting that the Police Force had a handle on the situation and that only recently, the incidents of crime appeared to be on the rise.

While he placed his faith in the Force to tackle the situation, McLean sought to urge Guyanese to be extra cautious when conducting their business.

He noted that despite this worrying situation, commuters still walk around Georgetown with huge cash at hand, wear excessive valuables and do not ensure proper security measures are in place when they leave the bank. As such, the GMSA head is encouraging citizens to do their part to safeguard themselves.

Amid these concerns, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has given his word that he will do everything in his power to address the situation.

At a post-Cabinet press

conference, Minister of State Joseph Harmon reported that the National Security Minister has acknowledged the rapid rate of crime in the country and has assured Cabinet that “immediate steps” will be taken to ensure everything is done to gradually reduce the occurrences.

These “immediate steps” will include increasing Police patrols in Divisions A (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara), B (Berbice), C

(East Coast Demerara) and D (West Bank Demerara/ East Bank Essequibo).

In addition, resources previously used by Community Policing Groups will be redirected towards the core function of the Police Force to help in this regard.

Ramjattan will also be visiting the various counties, starting with Berbice, to visit Police stations to identify the weaknesses in the crime fighting strategies to determine what needs to be done to improve the systems across the country.

The most recent crime statistics show that there was a 10 per cent increase in serious crime at the end of May when compared to the same period in 2014.

Also, a total of 66 murders were recorded at the end of May, in comparison to 59 murders at the end of May 2014 which saw a 12 per cent increase.

Final sitting of Rodney CoI set for July 27 to 31

The final session of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the death of Guyanese Historian and political leader, Dr Walter Rodney, is expected to be held from July 2731, according to information reaching Guyana Times A source close to the Secretariat of the Walter Rodney CoI confirmed this. However, efforts to contact the Chairman of the Secretariat on Wednesday proved futile. Nevertheless, Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams on Friday last told reporters that the last sitting of the enquiry will most likely be held at the ending of July. He noted that the session will not run for more than five days – two days will be for hearing of submissions by the parties involved and the remaining three days will be used to do administrative works; that is, for the Commissioners to review the submissions as well as all the evidence taken and statements of persons.

According to the Legal Affairs Minister, this final session is expected to rake up approximately $17 million. Earlier this month, the Attorney General disclosed that the CoI has so far exhausted some $325 million. That sum includes $16.8 million (US$80,300) that was paid to a journalist attached to a state-owned print media entity, who received a monthly fee of US$7300 to

write on the proceedings of the Commission. The multimillion-dollar paid journalist had subsequently issued a statement saying that he was contracted by the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government to write a book on the proceedings of the inquiry.

In addition, the Minister also disclosed that thus far, the salaries for the threeman Commission that is carrying out the investigation amounted to $150 million. The Commission, including its Chairman, Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham; Jamaican Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline SamuelsBrown and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, was set up in February of 2014, by then Head of State, President

Donald Ramotar to investigate who or what was responsible for the massive bomb blast that caused the instant death of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Cofounder on the evening of June 13, 1980. At that time, Ramotar had said that the establishment of the inquiry was due to a persistent request made by Rodney’s widow, Patricia, and their three children. However, the People’s National Congress (PNC), the major player in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, had maintained that the move was a political stunt taken to tarnish the reputation of the political unit.

Williams had previously told reporters “we had from the outset, complained about the manner in which this Commission was set up and we recognised that it was really largely for political purposes and a witch hunt. Obviously that failed because the Guyanese people turned out in their numbers and can vote.” The Rodney CoI, which had initially received a $112 million allocation from Parliament, was originally expected to last for some three months.

However, after its first sitting came to an end, it was further extended for month duration in June. Since then, it has had several extensions and up until its last sitting in March of this year had not yet come to any conclusion.

Khemraj Ramjattan

Gerald Gouveia

Norman McLean

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams

Pomeroon farmer missing, wife hospitalised after boat collision

Forty-seven-yearold Orton Benjamin from Recess ,Lower Pomeroon in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is now missing and his wife is hospitalised after the boat he was driving collided with a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard boat Wednesday morning

around 08:45h. The farmer was taking his wife, Simone, along with a seven-year-old to Liberty Primary School when the tragedy struck. Police from G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands) have since launched an investigation. Members of the community are also assisting to search for the farmer. The

Captain of the other boat is presently assisting Police with the investigation.

Speaking from her hospital bed at Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital, a traumatised Simone Benjamin said that her husband was taking her to her work place when the other boat struck their boat, which was being

powered by a 15 horsepower engine.

“We were crossing the river to head over Liberty when the Coast Guard boat hit our boat. All I heard is a loud noise and our boat upturned, the little boy began to swim; I couldn’t see my husband back,” a tearful Benjamin related, explained

that her husband struck his head and fell into the murky water of the Mighty Pomeroon.

The teacher added that she did not hear the other boat coming. “I am thanking God for my survival, I am a true Christian; my husband was a good man, we marry for 20 years,” Benjamin related. She related that she was rescued by neighbours who rushed to the scene. Persons also started to dive to find her husband, but all of those efforts proved futile. The occupants of the other boat escaped unhurt.

Police are presently investigating the incident.

Parking nightmare on Robb Street

Dear Editor,

The new government is skipping about with glee like children who had never expected to be let loose in a sweetie store and just like children they are acting out of plain spite.

They “jook” about everywhere and find no curtains or too many curtains and bustle about to straight-

en out everything like they have now done with vehicles parking on Robb Street.

Like everything else this was done without consultation and the public is left to wonder why the new parking arrangement.

Now Georgetown has never had any proper planning to accommodate growth, so parking is a

nightmare anywhere in the city.

Yet, at one fell swoop, the government has ordered away more than half of the vehicles that would find parking on Robb Street. Why? And where are they to go?

Is this a bid for straight lines and military order to satisfy the government? Is it

to frustrate shoppers in the main commercial centre of Regent/Robb Streets? Or is it to frustrate businesses in order to “shut them down”, one of those familiar refrains from the PNC’s protest days?

Now, since the PNC dictatorship was routed in 1992, the country’s economy has grown. More people own

Waiting too long for birth, marriage...

We can no longer trust the mail since these can be lost, damaged, go to a wrong lot number, and worst yet not many homes have a mail box and many residents work and are not at home.

So why the staff at GPOC are telling our Guyanese citizens who have waited hours for their birth, marriage, and death certificates that “you will get it in the mail’”, what makes it so hard to give it to them right there?

It’s very sad that many people who have to sign these documents are never in office or go to work extremely late, or hardly ever work.

I have been to several other offices in Guyana for documents and was told the person to sign the document is not in office, but that same person can be seen gaffing around the building compound with friends, but are still getting paid for a job they are incapable of doing .

I am not the only person who is faced with this problem; there are thousands of Guyanese experiencing the same thing because the lines for these documents are getting longer and longer every day, and some have to resort to bribery to obtain these certificates.

Amerindians are given first preference to obtain birth certificates through the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, so why is it that Indians and Africans are given such a hard time?

I am also concerned about the bad hand writing on these certificates. Most times an ‘M’ looks like an ‘N’ or an ‘I’ like a ‘J’ or an ‘O’ like a ‘Q’, thus giving applicants completely different names.

When these are queried, that’s exactly how it’s shown in the old books written down years ago, or they copy the names wrong. I am also flabbergasted at the dates on these certificates that are a long scratch or many times is completely omitted.

The signatures on these certificates are also a long scratch most times. I believe names written on certificates and dates must be clearly written. If a signature is a scratch, the name of the person signing on the certificate should be printed at the bottom.

That is one reason why many birth, death and marriage certificates are rejected by immigration. We need an updated birth, marriage and death certificate with typed names and visible

signatures, dates and seal to avoid forgery that can be given within a week of application.

The certificate size should be bigger because people with four or five names cannot fit into the small lines where names are written.

I note with interest the Registry at GPOC at Georgetown is opened Mondays to Thursdays from 08:00-12:00h so those travelling from Berbice, Essequibo, Linden and all over Guyana going upstairs to query and uplift birth certificates in the afternoon just after lunch are told to go home and come the next day.

Worst yet, they don’t work of Fridays. I am still trying to figure out why they work just four half days in the week and don’t work on Fridays. Yet, we still wait months, even years, to get these certificates in the mail.

Another problem I am faced with as a marriage officer is the long wait for marriage certificates. Just about two years ago when I married a couple, I would register the marriage and apply for the marriage certificate at the same time.

I would be given a slip to obtain the marriage cer-

tificate in a week, which I would get. Now they have a new requirement that when I register a marriage, I have to go downstairs and apply for the person’s marriage certificate, or the person will have to make the application.

Unfortunately, marriage officers like myself are blamed because the marriage certificate will take months to come, or only after several applications have been made, or I have gone back into the marriage section to query the situation.

I believe marriage officers should be given a greater preference to obtain marriage certificates for marriages they performed because most citizens work and have to lose days just to run to GPOC for these basic certificates.

Why is it we are faced with so many problems for just minor things in Guyana? We have not progressed very far as a nation after 49 years of independence.

It’s about time our new Minister of Home Affairs look into these issues. For Guyana to progress we must stop living in denial and correct our incompetence from day to day.

Rev Gideon Cecil

Govt must expedite constitutional...

The PNC should have pushed at that time for the return to the 1964/1966 constitution. If the population really wants to have power, they have to take to street protests and demand constitutional changes in which the politicians will be accountable to them and they will be able to govern themselves in their small communities.

During the election campaign, the coalition had promised that within 100 days of office, it will establish a commission to draft a new

Constitution and have it approved in a referendum within three years.

So far the coalition has reneged on several promises on how the country will be governed and on appointments. It will appoint a commission but its work will not be attempted until 2020 with another promise to change the Constitution when re-elected – both PNC and PPPC have behaved that way fooling the population.

Voters must hold the APNU+AFC coalition to its word to replace the undemo-

cratic Burnham Constitution with one approved by the population in a free and fair referendum. Voters must be consulted on every aspect of the Constitution.

In addition, voters must be given a choice in any constitutional reform – true democracy dictates such action. It is a Constitution for the people and they must be consulted.

The people should also be given a choice to draft their own Constitution that empowers them and shift powers away from the executive

– allow the people to govern themselves with the executive only controlling foreign and defense affairs.

Let the people choose between the British imposed independence constitution, the Burnham (1980) Constitution, a new one to be drafted (if the coalition is serious about it) by coalition appointed commission, or a constitution drafted by the people themselves.

The coalition must move on its constitutional promise.

Vishnu Bisram

homes and are also able to afford cars so there are more cars on the roads and more parking spaces needed.

If the government had provided some alternative plan for parking, the parallel parking on Robb Street would have made sense. As it is, the members of the public are scratching their heads and trying to figure it out for themselves.

I think it’s a Freudian slip and a very telling one at that. During the PNC dictatorship, the economy and

entire society were wrecked. It appears that Granger already knows the PNC will be repeating its history. He is simply preparing us for the economic downturn ahead which will see less goods on the shelf, less money in people’s pockets, less commerce all round and therefore less need for parking spaces in the city. This is the only reasoning that makes any sense of the parallel parking.

Shanie Jagessar

Light bulbs alone...

Mr Daniels wrote in reference to rioting Lindeners that “it is with deep concern that I condemn the killing of Guyanese citizens at Linden, who were engaged in peaceful protest (sic) activities against a very steep increase in their electricity rates, by the Guyana Police Force”.

Mr Daniels can be excused for blaming the Police for increasing Lindeners’ electricity rates. What he cannot keep getting away with is misrepresenting facts to suit an entitlement mindset that the state exists to primarily serve the loudest, most violent and destructive.

All else do not matter? He knows fully well that rioting Lindeners were not involved in peaceful protests. It also finally became public knowledge that the PPPC secretly subsidized electricity for Linden for 20 years (1992-2012), while the rest of Guyana paid higher prices. The PPP/C by agreement with the PNC wanted to level the playing field. The PNC reneged on that agreement. Asset recovery by the WPA Economist, now a Presidential Advisor making some $900, 000 a month should be easy when Lindeners pay back what is due. Wishful thinking?

In spite of his written grandiose pomp, Mr Daniels failed to quote or attribute what Dr Norton actually may have said. What GINA actually reported was clearer.

GINA reported that the National Ophthalmology Hospital (Berbice) which was “forced to cease operations because of damage caused by a fire approximately one year ago”... was to restart its operations,

From page 5

starting with cataract surgeries with “only one of the theatres fully functional, as some lighting issues and a damaged piece of equipment have to be looked at first”.

GINA quoted the Health Minister as saying: “Surgeries will begin on Monday, but only one theatre will be working, because one of the bulbs is overused, according to the doctors, and in another, the microscope is on the roof and was damaged by rainfall.”

The Minister said he was very surprised that medical professionals would refuse to work because of something as trivial as a non-working light bulb. He however stressed that the hospital is well equipped, but needs more human resources.

Give the man credit, the supplies exist. GINA reported that Dr Norton “said that he was surprised to hear of the hours that the doctors ‘put in’ during one week, noting that they work 60 hours, and then are still on call for the weekends. This, he noted is overworking and can have serious implications on the human body and also hinder the performance of the medical professionals.”

What is it the Minister should have said? Go home until the bulbs shine again?

Mr Daniels is not alone among defending Guyanese civil servants, who are discourteous, lazy and incompetent with many academic degrees to their credit.

Obviously there are many exceptions. Now that the PNC led coalition is in charge lets genuinely await their “one nation” metamorphosis, which will take all Guyana to a second wind.

Sultan Mohamed

Digicel Schools football, Berbice leg…

Huge wins for BHS, JC Chandisingh

Berbice High School (BHS) inflicted an 11-0 defeat over Canje Secondary on Wednesday at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, Berbice, as action in the fifth annual Digicel Schools football tournament continued in the Ancient County.

Led by five goals off the boot of Derick Taylor, BHS opened the eyes of some of the better teams in the Berbice leg of the competition as they completely outplayed a team, which in the past had reached the third round and was considered one of the more competitive teams.

Taylor netted in the 21st, 42nd, 60th, 66th and 73rd minutes of play to become the leading goal scorer in the Berbice leg thus far.

BHS opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Tozi Aaron found the back of the nets. It soon became 2-0 when Shemar Arrendell sent a high left foot shot close to the cross bar and out of the reach of the short goalkeep-

play, but the strikers were never able to penetrate the goal as they were met with a stubborn BHS defence.

On the other side for the field, BHS continued to make steady advances and had difficulty in getting past the defence which at some times had eight persons trying to prevent the

a Taylor shot, but could not hold on to the ball.

In the final minute of play, Randy Arrendell put his name on the score cards after several attempts to score.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, first timers, Overwinning went down 3-9 to seasoned campaigners J.C. Chandisingh at the Skeldon Community Centre. Led by Gavin Carrington with goals in the 24th and 27th minutes, J.C. Chanisingh took a 6-0 halftime lead after being able to keep the ball about 90 percent of the time inside the 20-yard box.

The J.C. Chandisingh lads were off to an early start when Wron George scored in the second minute, followed by Josiah Giles in the 15th and Reoul Drepaul in the 18th and 26th . Carrington continued in the second half with goals in the 49th and 64th minutes, while Gromell Davidson netted in the 34th minute.

However, in the second half Overwinning came into

er Trevette Edwards in the 24th minute. Arrendell also scored in the 28th minute.

Aaron made it 5-0 in the 37th minute before Taylor returned to the scoring area to give his team a 6-0 lead at the halftime whistle when he scored his second goal.

Canje Secondary returned in the second half and utilised their ball possession more purposely with some excellent midfield

scoreline changing. Credit must be given to goalkeeper Edwards who made several brilliant saves and kept interest in the game.

Edwards used his feet, hands and his ability to dive to make more than 10 saves, but Taylor was still able to find the back of the net on three occasions in the second half, while Arrendell put in one in the 76th minute after the keeper had made an excellent save off of

their own and got the better of the final moments of the game. For Overwinning, Tierre Phillips, Nigel Mingo and Joshua Paul scored to save their team total embarrassment.

The competition will continue today with Berbice Educational Institute taking the regional defending champions, Vrymens Erven Secondary at the Burnham Park.

Miller appointed to WICB’s Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dodridge Miller to its Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee.

Miller has been the President and Chief Executive Officer at the Sagicor Financial Corporation (formerly the Mutual Group of Companies) since July 1, 2002.

“We are quite fortunate to have someone with the knowledge, background and expertise of Dodridge, agree to serve West Indies cricket in this way,” said WICB president Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron.

“We recognise that good governance and strong, responsible, balanced leadership are going to be critical to creating long-term organisational success and so we are grateful for the time that Dodridge is taking to help guide us on this path of restoring West Indies cricket as a successful brand.”

The principal role of the Corporate Governance and Nominations Committee is to assist the Directors in organising themselves to discharge their duties and responsibilities properly and effectively.

Miller will join President of the Caribbean Court of

Justice Sir Dennis Byron, who is chairman of the Committee, Cameron, VicePresident of the WICB Emmanuel Nanthan, Chief Executive Officer Michael Muirhead and Corporate Secretary Verlyn Faustin.

As head of the Sagicor Group, Miller is responsible for the strategic management of the company, including international business development, and led its successful listing efforts on the London Stock Exchange.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industries, spanning auditing, accounting, banking,

investments and insurance. Miller has spearheaded a number of strategic initiatives within the Sagicor Group, such as the development of its international business portfolio.

He serves as the chairman or director of a number of well-established regional and international financial businesses including Island Life Insurance Company Limited (Jamaica), Allnation Insurance Company in the United States and Capital deSerguros in Panama.

He also serves as a Director of Cable and Wireless (Barbados) Limited and is a Member of Council of University of the West Indies, Cave Hill.

Miller is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (United Kingdom) and was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of the West Indies seven years ago. He is a graduate of Barbados Community College and earned an MBA in Finance from the University of Wales and Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom. He also holds an LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law from the University of the West Indies. (WICB Release)

Liverpool sign Brazil striker in £29m deal

Liverpool have signed forward Roberto Firmino from Hoffenheim on a fiveyear deal for a fee of about £29m.

The 23-year-old’s deal is subject to a medical, which will take place after he returns from Chile, where he has been playing for Brazil in the Copa America.

Firmino, who has scored 47 goals in 151 games for Hoffenheim, becomes the Reds’ second most expensive player.

The Anfield club made Andy Carroll their record signing when he joined them for £35m from Newcastle in 2011.

They also paid Southampton £25m for Adam Lallana in 2014, and have already brought in Burnley striker Danny Ings, goalkeeper Adam Bogdan, defender Joe Gomez and midfielder James Milner this summer.

The Reds have so far resisted two offers from Manchester City for England forward Raheem Sterling.

Firmino, who has spent the last four and a half seasons in the Bundesliga, was on target for Brazil in their 2-1 Copa America victory over Venezuela on Sunday.

In the absence of Neymar, who has been

suspended for the rest of the tournament, Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, who is already a Liverpool player, are set to start again in Saturday’s quarter-final against Paraguay. (BBC Sport)

Gavin Carrington

From left: Randy Arrendell, Derick Taylor, Tozi Aaron and Shemar Arrendell

Dodridge Miller

Roberto Firmino

Bangladesh v India, 3rd ODI, Mirpur… Wimbledon 2015…

Dhawan, Dhoni set up consolation win Swan shocks world number 118 in qualifying

Fifties from Shikhar Dhawan and MS Dhoni set India up for their best batting performance of the ODI series and gave them the consolation of avoiding a 3-0 ‘Banglawash’.

Chasing 318 - it would have been their second-highest successful chase had they pulled it off - Bangladesh made an encouraging start but lost too many wickets by the 30th over to stay in contention. The 77-run loss meant Bangladesh’s winning streak at home stopped at 10 matches.

Dhawan stroked a 73-ball 75 and Dhoni, batting at No. 4 for the second match running, made a 77-ball 69 that saw India through the middle overs. Together, they laid the platform for the lower middle order, led by Suresh Raina, to smash 50 off the last five

overs. Raina made a telling contribution with the ball as well, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan on his way to a three-wicket haul.

At the start of their batting Powerplay, Bangladesh needed 116 to win from 90 balls, but only had four wickets in hand. The end took its time coming, with Arafat Sunny blocking his way to an unbeaten 40-ball 14, but three overs still remained when they were bowled out. Despite the margin of defeat, Bangladesh still had positives to take in the continuing excellence of Mustafizur Rahman and sparkling knocks from Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman.

The languid Sarkar attacked from the start, striking Stuart Binny for three fours and a six in two overs

SCOREBOARD

India innings (50 overs maximum)

RG Sharma c †Litton Das b Mustafizur Rahman 29

S Dhawan c Nasir Hossain b Mashrafe Mortaza 75

V Kohli b Shakib Al Hasan 25

MS Dhoni*† c Mustafizur Rahman b Mashrafe Mortaza 69

AT Rayudu c †Litton Das b Mashrafe Mortaza 44

SK Raina b Mustafizur Rahman 38

STR Binny not out 17

AR Patel not out 10

Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-3) 10

Total (6 wickets; 50 overs) 317

Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Sharma, 6.6 ov), 2-114 (Kohli, 19.5 ov), 3-158 (Dhawan, 26.5 ov), 4-251 (Rayudu, 43.3 ov), 5-268 (Dhoni, 45.2 ov), 6-301 (Raina, 48.4 ov)

Bowling: Mustafizur Rahman

10-0-57-2, Mashrafe Mortaza

10-0-76-3 (2-w), Arafat Sunny

6-0-42-0, Rubel Hossain 9-0-75-

0 (1-w), Nasir Hossain 6-0-270, Shakib Al Hasan 9-1-33-1

Bangladesh innings (target: 318 runs from 50 overs)

Tamim Iqbal lbw b Kulkarni 5

Soumya Sarkar c Ashwin b Kulkarni 40

Litton Das† b Patel 34

Mushfiqur Rahim c †Dhoni b Raina 24

Shakib Al Hasan c Kulkarni b Raina 20

Sabbir Rahman b Binny 43

Nasir Hossain c Rayudu b Ashwin 32

Mashrafe Mortaza* b Ashwin 0 Arafat Sunny not out 14

Rubel Hossain c Patel b Raina 2 Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Rayudu 9 Extras (lb-3, w-13, nb-1) 17

Total (all out; 47 overs) 240

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Tamim Iqbal, 1.6 ov), 2-62 (Soumya Sarkar, 9.2 ov), 3-112 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 18.6 ov), 4-118 (Litton Das, 21.5 ov), 5-148 (Shakib Al Hasan, 26.3 ov), 6-197 (Sabbir Rahman, 32.5 ov), 7-205 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 35.4 ov), 8-216 (Nasir Hossain, 39.1 ov), 9-222 (Rubel Hossain, 43.2 ov), 10-240 (Mustafizur Rahman, 46.6 ov)

Bowling: STR Binny 6-0-41-1 (4-w), DS Kulkarni 8-0-34-2 (3w), UT Yadav 4-0-33-0 (1-w), R Ashwin 10-1-35-2, AR Patel 9-1-44-1, SK Raina 8-0-45-3 (1w), AT Rayudu 2-1-5-1 (1-nb)

B- the best of his shots a backfoot punch stroked in front of point - and greeting Umesh Yadav with two fours in his first over. Despite the loss of Tamim Iqbal in the second over of the innings - Dhawal Kulkarni getting him lbw by nipping one back from around the wicket - Bangladesh seemed well on course as they raced past 50 in the seventh over. Sarkar played one shot too many, though, and miscued Kulkarni to mid-on in the tenth over.

The run rate never really dipped even after that, as Mushfiqur, Shakib, Sabbir and Nasir Hossain all got off to brisk starts. None of them got to 50, though, and when Binny bowled Sabbir for 43 in the 33rd over, he ended the last threatening phase of the Bangladesh innings, a sixthwicket stand of 49 in 29 balls with Nasir. (Cricinfo)

ritish 16-yearold Katie Swan stunned world number 118 Kristina Kucova in the first round of Wimbledon qualifying.

Wildcard Swan, ranked 866th, beat the 25-year-old ninth seed 6-3 6-4 in Roehampton.

The teenager reached the Australian Open junior final in January and only recently began playing senior events.

“I was really nervous before I went on court but I needed to relax and play because I had no pressure at all,” she said.

“Obviously I was nervous, and got nervous in the last game, but I was really happy with the way I played.

“I was more aggressive than I have previously been and that worked for me today.”

Swan, who is based in the USA where her fami -

england must not be afraid to lose

England must not be afraid of losing if they are to beat Australia and regain the Ashes, according to former captain Michael Vaughan.

England’s bid to avenge a 5-0 defeat in 2013-14 begins on July 8.

“They have to take Australia on with the mentality of ‘we don’t care about losing’ because that will make the Aussies fear them more,” said TMS pundit Vaughan.

“If they have any kind of worries or concerns, then they will get walloped.”

Alastair Cook’s side will take on Australia with new coach Trevor Bayliss in place after displaying a revamped positive approach in the Test and limited-overs series

against New Zealand.

And Vaughan, who led England to Ashes success in 2005, says he can see parallels between this summer and that successful campaign of 10 years ago.

“I can sense the country is really enjoying cricket and the way England are playing,” said Vaughan.

“If England can play in the same spirit as we’ve seen in the ODI series, even though the Ashes are a different format, they have a chance of causing a shock.

“My concern is England haven’t played this way for long enough. In 2005 we played it for 18 months, it was embedded into our brains. I don’t know if this England have done it for long enough to trust themselves.”

(BBC Sport)

ly live, will play Austria’s Tamira Paszek - a twotime Wimbledon quarterfinalist - in the second round.

“It’s an amazing experience for me getting to play in front of big crowds against really good players,” added Swan, who is staying at the National Tennis Centre, which overlooks the qualifying courts.

“I definitely think the seniors can produce a lot more power - they’re just more experienced, they’ve played a lot more matches than juniors.

“There’s a different mentality too. Here people are much more willing to fight until it’s all over but I think it’s a really good experience.”

In other first-round matches, Katy Dunne

There was little to be said of the Patriots bowling which was helpless in the fact of the onslaught but Canadian Nikhil Dutta did bowl nicely, taking 2-32 from his four overs.

beat Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-2, while fellow Briton Tara Moore saw off compatriot Gabriella Taylor 6-2 6-1. But Dunne suffered a disqualification scare after hitting a ball into a line judge.

The 20-year-old wildcard double-faulted to go 2-1 down in the second set and accidentally hit her spare ball at the official.

Play was suspended when the umpire called for a ruling, but a tearful Dunne was allowed to continue.

Japan’s 44-year-old Kimiko Date-Krum, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 1996, went down 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to Olga Govortsova. (BBC Sport)

The Zouks had chased what was not an easy score with loads of time to spare and in doing so have sent out a message to the other teams that this year they are serious contenders. The Zouks play the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Friday next while the Patriots play top of the table Barbados Tridents on Saturday. Zouks hand Patriots...

SCOREBOARD

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots innings (20 overs maximum)

MJ Guptill c Roach b Gabriel 14

E Lewis b Edwards 0

O Peters c Davids b Edwards 0

SO Dowrich c Mayers b Gabriel 2

MN Samuels* not out 52

DC Thomas† c Leie b Sammy 34

Shahid Afridi lbw b Gabriel 1

Sohail Tanvir not out 26

Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-14) 20

Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 149

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Lewis, 1.5 ov), 2-17 (Guptill, 2.5 ov), 3-19 (Peters, 3.6 ov), 4-19 (Dowrich, 4.1 ov), 5-97 (Thomas, 13.4 ov), 6-99 (Shahid Afridi, 14.1 ov)

Bowling: ST Gabriel 4-0-19-3 (4w), FH Edwards 4-0-29-2, KAJ Roach 4-0-37-0 (3-w), E Leie

4-0-16-0 (3-w), KR Mayers 2-019-0 (2-w), DJG Sammy 2-0-23-1 St Lucia Zouks innings (target: 150 runs from 20 overs) ADS Fletcher† c †Thomas b Dutta 48 J Charles not out 69 KR Mayers c Cottrell b Shamsi 2 KP Pietersen b Dutta 18 LRPL Taylor not out 4 Extras (lb-1, w-8) 9 Total (3 wickets; 15.4 overs) 150 Fall of wickets:

India’s captain MS Dhoni stroked 69 off 77 balls

Wildcard British 16-year-old Katie Swan is ranked 866th in the world

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Salazar denies doping allegations in open letter

Athletics coach Alberto Salazar has written an open letter to deny allegations that he has used doping techniques.

Salazar has been accused of violating anti-doping rules, including claims he was involved in doping US record holder Galen Rupp - training partner of Britain’s Mo Farah - in 2002.

The 56-year-old coach said he will “never permit doping”.

He added: “I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes.”

There is no suggestion double-Olympic champion Farah, who is part of Salazar’s Nike Oregon Project (NOP) training operation in the United States, has broken any rules.

A BBC Panorama investigation in collaboration with US journalism organisation ProPublica claimed that American distance runner Rupp, 29, was given the banned anabolic steroid testosterone in 2002,

when he was 16 years old.

In his letter, Salazar denies that Rupp has ever taken a banned substance.

No allegations were made against other NOP athletes in the investigation.

The Cuba-born American added in the 12,000-word statement, published on the NOP website, that his athletes had to “fully comply” with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules.

He continued: “I am saddened that these false allegations have been allowed to run with little care for the carnage in their wake.

“I am always extra cautious and take every step to ensure my athletes comply with the anti-doping rules.”

Defending Rupp, who won Olympic 10,000m silver behind Farah in 2012, he said: “Galen suffers from severe allergies and breathing issues. He is medically diagnosed as suffering from both asthma and Hashimotos dis-

ease, a thyroid disease.

“Galen is one of the hardest working, most honest and genuine athletes I have ever known. Galen has never taken a banned substance in violation of the Wada code.”

Salazar, who claimed the allegations were based on “nothing but innuendo, hearsay and rumour”, goes on to highlight Rupp’s medical history in detail as well as details of thyroid and asthma medicine use in the NOP.

He also provides figures to answer claims about the alleged abuse of therapeutic use exemptions, or TUEs, which permit athletes to use certain substances to treat some conditions.

“From these numbers it is clear that the Oregon Project is not manipulating the TUE process in any way,” he said.

The lengthy document also addresses specific claims made by individuals in the investigation. (BBC Sport)

Brady awaits ‘Deflate-gate’ appeal

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has made his appeal against the four-match ban he received for his part in ‘Deflate-gate’.

Brady presented his case during a 10-hour hearing on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old was punished by the NFL (National Football League) after it was decided he was “generally aware” of a scheme to deflate footballs.

The incident happened in the Patriots’ play-off win over Indianapolis Colts, which sent them to the Super Bowl.

An NFL investigation claimed the Patriots had deflated match balls to give themselves an advantage in their 45-7 victory. They went on to win the Super Bowl XLIX.

According to reports, 11 of the 12 game balls they provided for the rain-affected match were underinflated below set stan -

dards by about two pounds per square inch, giving Brady more grip in the cold and wet conditions.

Brady was “at least generally aware of inappropriate activities”, according to the independent Wells Report.

But Brady’s father, Tom Brady Sr, labelled the investigation “Frame-gate”, and the player’s agent Don Yee said the ban was “ridiculous” and lacked “le -

gi timate basis”.

The quarterback will not receive any pay during his ban, while the team was fined $1m (£642,000).

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presided over Brady’s hearing, despite a request from the Players Association’ for a neutral arbitrator.

No set time frame has been made for the outcome of the appeal. (BBC Sport)

Alberto Salazar (centre) has worked with several top athletes

Tom Brady presented his case during a 10-hour hearing earlier this week

GOA Future Open badminton tourney underway

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) sponsored Future Open badminton tournament organised by the Guyana Badminton Association got off to a solid start on Tuesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue.

The tournament, which will conclude today, is being contested in various categories, namely Open Men’s and Ladies Singles and Doubles. The competition has attracted a few past national players, among them William Holder, Grandison Robinson and Gokarn Ramdhani.

Below are the summarised results from the games played.

In the Men’s Singles first round: Grandison Robinson defeated youngster Tyrese Jeffrey in a three-setter

24-22, 7-21, 15-21; Darrell Carpenay defeated Josh Oodit 21-8, 21-4; Jonathan Mangra defeated Ransell Ransaroop 21-5, 21-8; Gokarn Ramdhani defeated Akili Haynes 21-7, 216; and Christopher Persaud defeated Cecil Abrams 2112, 21-15.

In the Men’s Singles quarter-finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Grandison Robinson 21-3, 21-0; Avinash Odit defeated Darrell Carpenay 21-18, 21-7; Jonathan Mangra defeated Gokarn Ramdhani: 21-19, 21-9; and Nicholas Ali defeated Christopher Persaud 21-17, 5-21, 11-21.

In the Ladies Singles first round: Shonatta Lowe defeated Wonita Yang 21-9, 21-12; Ayanna Wickham-Watson defeated Amanda Daniels 2118, 21-9; Kara Abrams defeated Sudarshani

Sooknarine 21-0, 21-3; and Emelia Ramdhani defeated Priyanka Shivnauth 21-11, 21-5.

In the Ladies Singles quarter-finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Shonatta Lowe 21-1, 213; Kara Abrams defeated Andrea Bernard 21-5, 213; and Abosaide Cadogan defeated Emelia Ramdhani 21-11, 21-15.

In the Men’s Doubles quarter-finals: Narayan Ramdhani/Nicholas Ali defeated Cecil Abrams and Josh Odit 21-3, 21-6; and Haymant Ramdhani/ William Holder defeated Darrell Carpenay and Christopher Persaud 21-16, 21-10.

In the Ladies Doubles quarter-finals: Andrea Bernard/Amanda Daniels defeated Priyanka Shivnauth/Wonita Yang 2220, 21-18.

Red Steel take aim at...

“If we can play to the best of our ability I’m sure we can match it here and beat the Tridents.”

Red Steel’s campaign got off to a rocky start on Sunday when their opening game against St Lucia Zouks ended in a no-result, after rain ended the contest prematurely.

Set 180 for victory at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium in St Lucia, Red Steel were ten without loss after five deliveries, when the game was washed out by heavy rain.

Despite this setback, Helmot said Red Steel were still in high spirits.

“We have a fantastic unit. There’s a lot of fun and enjoyment, lots of smiles and laughter as well as some serious hard work,” Helmot said.

“We had a fantastic session yesterday at Kensington Oval where the guys worked very hard … the guys enjoy playing under lights in front of capacity crowds and they are really pumped and ready for tomorrow’s game.

“We’re fortunate, we believe we have depth in our squad that can be picked at any time depending on the opposition that we’re playing. We’re very confident but we’re certainly very respectful to the talent and depth of the opposition.”

Tridents have been superb, beating Guyana Amazon Warriors by 49 runs last Saturday in the tournament’s curtain-raiser before seeing off Jamaica Tallawahs by 16 runs on Tuesday.

On both occasions they won the toss, batted first and then defended their totals admirably, but Helmot believes Red Steel are capable of putting the hosts under pressure.

“I think the Tridents are obviously very good depthwise in their batting order. Like ourselves, they’ve got a good mix of pace and spin and they’re well led,” he pointed out.

“Kieron Pollard has been a successful captain and successful player in many formats all around the world. He’s coming off success last

gBa stages successful olympic Day activity

TAssociation (GBA), in observance of World Olympic Day on Tuesday last, held a successful tournament for Under-11 players at the Marian Academy badminton courts. The competition was contested in two categories- Boys Singles and Girls Singles.

In the Boys division,

Persaud defeated Omar Samad 21-7 in the final, while Abeva Jones took third spot from Etan Bianchini 21-10. Persaud and Samad made it to the final with victories over Jones (21-10) and Bianchini (21-17) respectively.

In the quarter-finals, Jones defeated Nixon Williams 21-15 and Samad got the better of Narendra

take the third place game. Singh and Choo-SheeNam had progressed to the final with wins over Balram (21-5) and Ramlall (21-17) respectively.

Dutch Police threaten to disrupt Tour de France

from back page

year in the CPL and he also backed it up with a win with the IPL with Mumbai. Kieron is not only a great player in his own right but he’s also been a leader in successful teams.”

He added: “We believe that, like with any team, if you can put them under some pressure, make sure we’re really aggressive in the field and show real desire and intensity, we can put pressure on their batting unit.

“Whenever you play a good side, you can’t afford to be bogged down, you can’t afford to be dictated to so we’ll be looking to put our strategy in place so the game can be played on our terms.”

Red Steel will depend on the all-round talents of South African star Jacques Kallis, his compatriot Cameron Delport and aggressive Pakistani batsman Kamran Akmal.

The Bravo brothers, Darren and Dwayne, along with leg-spinner Samuel Badree, will also be key to any Red Steel victory.

Dutch Police in Utrecht say they intend hold their own race on the Tour’s opening stage

Dutch Police are threatening to disrupt the opening stages of the Tour de France as part of industrial action for better pay.

They say they will block the route of the race’s second stage on July 5, and hold their own race the day before.

Police unions have been locked in a pay dispute with the Dutch government for months.

The opening stages of the race are known as the Grand Depart and often take place

outside France.

The Dutch Police say they intend to block a bridge near Rotterdam until all riders are briefly forced to come to a halt.

They intend to carry out traffic checks on the convoy of support vehicles that precede the riders, thus stopping the race.

“The checks will stop when it’s clear from live broadcasts in several European countries that the Tour de France cyclists have stopped because police are taking action for better

working conditions,” the police union said in a statement.

The Tour begins in Utrecht on July 4. Officers plan to carry out their own symbolic bike ride along the opening stage an hour before the official race begins.

The country’s Police officers have previously targeted sporting events to highlight their pay dispute. Last month a Dutch first division football game was cancelled after police said they could not guarantee its security.

(BBC Sport)

he Guyana Badminton

Zackary

Singh 21-4. The Girls Singles tournament was won by Lesah Singh, who prevailed 21-1 over Raquel Choo-Shee-Nam. Reba Ramlall defeated Amelia Balram 21-3 to

Narayan Ramdhani watches on as his doubles partner Nicholas Ali goes for a shot

Some of the youngsters who participated in the World Olympic Day activity

GBTI Tennis Open... Youth versus experience in Ladies doubles final

Aseasoned campaigner in Carol Humphrey has returned to the home courts of Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Tennis Open 2015, representing the Ancient County of Berbice in her quest to take the Ladies title.

Humphrey is well known for her trick serves and tactical strategies that would break her opponents mentally, and this year she has paired up with Afruica Gentle in the first round match of the Ladies Doubles against Non Pariel’s top ladies players, Kizzy Richmond and Denise Barrington.

The duo of Barrington/ Richmond succumbed 0-6, 2-6 to Humphrey/Gentle’s powerful shots and graceful volleys. The sagely counsel of Humphrey tempered

young Gentle who at times got sporadic with big forehand shots which created unnecessary errors.

Under-14s Shivani Persaud and Kalysia Fraser held their own against Under-18 pair Nicola Ramdyhan and Areta Dey in the Ladies Doubles Open. Persaud and Fraser made a good team since both have a calm demeanour, but the level of energy to maintain the momentum was lacking at times.

The two took a 3-0 lead over Ramdyhan/Dey in the first set and kept a lead until the score was 5-5, but the experience of Ramdyhan and Dey denied them the win. The set closed at 7-5 in favour of the senior players as well as the second which ended 6-4. The final will be more challenging when they duel against Humphrey and

Gentle.

In the Over-35 Men’s Singles, the veterans did not disappoint in the match between Russian Vladimir Permyakov and local Steven David-Long in a match that had a touch of every possible variables.

The game plan of DavidLong to have his opponent taken out of his comfort zone was rewarded with the first set victory, 6-4. Permyakov mentioned that the court was slower to the surface he usually plays on.

He eventually settled and secured the second set, 6-1, which threw the game into sudden death. In the end, the Russian won the game 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. He will play number one seed, Godfrey Lowden, in the semi-final.

After being on court for three hours the night before, Kester Abrams returned to play in the Men’s Doubles Open with partner, Bishan Dalip, against Orande Dainty and Khawn Rodney.

Dainty and Rodney gave a challenge to their opponents however, the first set slipped from their hands. Abrams and Dalip were able to stay in their hitting range at the baseline and force lengthy rallies which resulted in errors from the other team.

They wrapped up the match with a 7-5, 6-2 win and will face the top seeds, Anthony Downes and Jason Andrews, in their next match. The last match of the night was played by Harry Panday and Joseph De Jonge against Charles Adams and Romario Chanderballi.

Adams and Chanderballi had great shots, but failed to consistently stay in the rallies. Panday displayed his 35 years of experience on the tennis court with solid backup from De Jonge to prevail, 6-1, 6-3.

Rain forces postponement of Assuria cricket in Berbice

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), the organising body for the Assuria five-over knockout cricket tournament, has been forced to postpone the game due to the rainy season.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, disclosed that the organisers received an email from the Human Resources Manager of the Albion Estate, Vemen Walter, which stated that the Albion Ground would be unavailable for the next three weeks due to the weather as a lot of maintenance work has to be done by management. The organisers, Foster stated, would set a new date for the tournament

Balram Shane partners with BCB’s Caricom Championship

The Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) fundraiser event- the Caricom Championship- continues to attract private sector assistance with Balram Shane Variety Store of Public Road, Rose Hall, becoming the latest sponsor to come onboard for the July 5 tournament.

At a simple ceremony held recently, the owner Balram Shane presented the sponsorship sum to BCB representative, Alvin Alladin. Shane said that he is a lover of the game of cricket and will always make a contribution when the need arise. He added that he is pleased with the work of the board and wished it well in the upcoming fundraiser.

Alladin thanked the businessman for his generosity and promised him good mileage for his contribution. Alladin recognised

the amount of contributions Shane has made to sports in general and called on the public to support the business so that more can be given back to charity.

He also mentioned that the board is very pleased with the annual contribution the business makes to Albion Cricket Club and Port Mourant Cricket Club through the Balram Shane cricket match.

Meanwhile, the BCB is also calling on other sponsors to come onboard. Proceeds from the event will be used mainly to organise threeday cricket competition in Berbice.

The Caricom Championship will see the top eight T20 first division teams in Berbice competing in a 10-over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to be played under lights for a top prize of

$80,000 and trophy. The runner-up will receive $40,000 and trophy with the losing semi-finalists getting $15,000 each.

The participating teams are: Upper Corentyne/ Skeldon, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Albion, Young Warriors/Edinburg/Rose Hall Center, Police/Bermine, Blairmont/West Berbice and Bush Lot/D’Edward. Admission is $300 per person and action will bowl off at 10:00h.

Others sponsors on board so far are: Sentinel Security Inc., Republic Bank Guyana Limited, Tiger Sports, Sandeep Ramdas of Ishmail Poultry Establishment (Pampey), Safraz Photo Studio, Office Express Daniel Harricharran of Beauty and Home Systems and Rocky of Palace Taxi Service and Restaurant and Bar.

after discussion with the official sponsors. The participating teams are Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘A’, Rose Hall Town Bakewell ‘B’, D ‘Edward, Blairmont, Young Warriors, Albion, Courtland, Tamarind Root, Tain Block Four, Port Mourant, Whim and Yakusari.

Representatives of the teams are encouraged to call the club office on 3374562 for more information.

BCB representative, Alvin Alladin (left) receives sponsorship from Balram Shane of Balram Shane Variety Store

Areta Dey (left) and Nicola Ramdyhan

Vemen Walter

Hilbert Foster

Zouks hand Patriots forgettable CPL debut

The St. Lucia Zouks delivered a near-perfect performance against CPL debutants the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots to register their first win of the season.

Two early wickets each for Fidel Edwards and Shannon Gabriel reduced the Patriots to 21-4 inside the Powerplay and despite a fifty from Marlon Samuels that elevated the Patriots to 149-6, a brutal innings from Johnson Charles saw the Zouks cruise to victory with more than four overs remaining.

After losing their top four early, having won the toss and elected to bat, Samuels, who scored 52, in partnership with Devon Thomas, who scored 34, helped haul the Patriots to a more respectable score. Sohail Tanvir also chipped in with 26.

The pick of the bowlers for the Zouks was Gabriel who finished with 3-19, but Edwards also took 2-29 while leg-spinner Eddie Leie bowled four economical overs, conceding just 16 runs.

Samuels’ fifty will have given the Patriots hope that they could challenge the Zouks, however that hope wasn’t accounting for the batting of Andre Fletcher and Johnson Charles.

Just as the pair did against the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel they came out all guns blazing, and after four boundary filled overs had carried the Zouks to 47-0 and then by the end of the Powerplay 61-0.

Fletcher fell in the ninth over for 48 and Kyle Mayers departed shortly after, however Charles continued his onslaught and with Kevin Pietersen alongside him continued to surge the Zouks onwards.

Even when Pietersen fell that didn’t stop Charles who moved beyond fifty and the Patriots were powerless to stop him and with Ross Taylor at the crease the Zouks completed victory with 26 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand. Charles finished 69 not out, smiting five sixes and three fours in a remarkable innings.

Red Steel take aim at Tridents winning streak Guyana lose 0-2 to Cuba in opener

Guyana’s national male Under-23 footballers suffered an opening defeat at the hands of Cuba in their Group

Two game of the Olympic Qualifiers at the Antigua Recreational ground, St John’s, on Wednesday afternoon. The Guyanese conceded two first half goals that effectively sealed the game, and left them without a point to start the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the tournament.

Frank Manuel Lopez opened the scoring for the Cubans as early as the seventh minute, and four minutes before the halftime break, Darian Perez doubled the advantage.

The young Golden Jaguars will look to rebound on Friday when the face hosts Antigua, before they take on Aruba in the final game of the group on Sunday. The national footballers are aiming to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

rinidad and Tobago Red Steel will take aim at Barbados Tridents’ two-game winning streak, when the two teams lock horns in an anticipated high-octane affair in the Caribbean Premier League here Thursday.

Tridents, the defending champions, have started on a high, winning both their matches in the tournament to date, but Red Steel head coach Simon Helmot believes his charges have the ability to bring this successful run to an end in the 20:00h encounter at Kensington Oval.

“They’ve won their two first scheduled matches, and they are the team to beat especially on their home turf in front of their home crowd. However, I think the wicket and the ground are certainly going to suit our style of play. We have a good combination of spin and pace and a batting outfit which I think can match any team,” Helmot said on Wednesday.

“Like any game of T20, you just need to play at your

best and execute your skills best you can. I thought we were a little off with our bowling execution in [the

opening game] and I think the intensity in the field was probably lacking in that first half of the last match where

I thought we came back quite well and the catches and run outs were taken.

Barbados Tridents fans have had lots to cheer about so far this season (CPLT20)

Marlon Samuels’ 50 steadied the Patriots after an early wobble

Shannon Gabriel was impressive, claiming three wickets